Page 68 - FoodFocusThailand No.228 March 2025

STRONG QC & QA
Table 1 Types of food authenticity can be divided into 8 categories
Type of Food Example Cases
Ingredient Authenticity • Olive oil is not diluted with other oils.
• Saffron is not mixed with artificial colorants.
• Beef is not mixed with any meat from other species.
Geographic Authenticity • Champagne from the Champagne region of France.
• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from specific provinces in Italy.
Process Authenticity • Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, a traditional balsamic vinegar, must be made from the methods in the
Modena and Reggio Emilia regions of Italy. The process includes cooking in an open flame, called
mosto cotto, natural fermentation, and aging in wooden barrels following a specific aging process,
known as the solera system.
Species Authenticity • The kebabs sold in Kilosa District of Tanzania as goat meat were actually made from other species,
such as cattle, chicken, impala, and warthog. This substitution is not only the case of species authenticity
but also raises ethical and conservation concerns, especially when wildlife species are involved.
Cultural Authenticity • Smoking in the southern US must use specific types of wood, and regional sauces and rubs are integral
to its authenticity.
Label Authenticity • The label claims of “organic,” “non-GMO,” “gluten-free,” and other certifications that consumers rely on
when making purchasing decisions.
• The case of relabeling the expiration date of food products in Latvia and Italy in 2023.
• The case of vegan sausages found to contain chicken, beef, and pork in 2024.
Nutritional Authenticity • A substitution of honey with sugar syrup.
• The case of an adulteration of infant formula with melamine to increase nitrogen levels, an indicator of
protein content, in 2008.
Ethical Authenticity • The fair-trade certification ensures that coffee farmers receive fair wages and work under safe conditions;
however, some companies falsely label their products as fair trade to capitalize on consumer demand
for ethically produced goods.
Table 2 Similarities and differences between food authenticity and food safety
Similarities Differences
Consumer Protection: Motivation:
• Ensuring the safety genuineness and • Food Authenticity:
legitimacy of the food products. - Intentional malpractices, including adulteration, mislabeling, and substitution of high-quality
• Building consumer trust and confidence ingredients with cheaper alternatives, primarily aimed at increasing profit margin.
in the food supply. - May or may not contribute to health impacts.
• Food Safety: Malpractices, either with or without intention, lead to unintentional contamination
of foodborne microbes, chemical contamination, and physical hazards.
Regulatory Oversight: Concerns and Focuses:
• Requiring oversight by government • Food Authenticity:
agencies and international bodies. - Concerns include intentional adulteration, substitution, and mislabeling of food products.
• Ensuring compliance with standards - Focuses on verifying the origin, ingredients, and production methods of food to prevent
and regulations. fraud and mislabeling.
• Food Safety:
- Concerns include unintentional contamination by pathogens, chemical residues, and physical
hazards.
- Ensuring that food is free from harmful contaminants and safe for consumption.
Supply Chain Transparency: Regulatory Frameworks:
• Requiring transparency and traceability • Food Authenticity:
in the food supply chain to ensure that - Regulations related to labeling, geographic indications, and certification schemes (e.g.,
food products are authentic and safe. organic, non-GMO).
• Food Safety:
- Regulations related to hygiene, sanitation, and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points
(HACCP) to prevent contamination.
Impacts: Testing Methods:
• Preventing health risks from either • Food Authenticity: Uses methods like DNA testing, isotope analysis, and spectroscopy to
intentional or unintentional harm. verify the authenticity of ingredients and their origin.
• Preventing economic loss. • Food Safety: Uses microbiological testing, chemical analysis, and physical inspections to
detect contaminants and ensure safety.

In general, consumers rely on transparency and efficacy of seeking assurance that the foods they buy are safe and accurately
regulatory enforcement, as well as their trust in food chain labeled. Due to social media, information about food fraud cases
stakeholders and their production practices. Consumers can go viral instantly. The shift in behavior is driving manufacturers
generally consider authenticity a positive attribute and are willing and regulators to adopt more accurate traceability and testing
to pay higher prices for products and experiences they perceive methods.
as more “authentic”. Today, consumers are more vigilant and

68 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND MAR 2025 More Information Service Info C010

22/2/2568 BE 12:04
64-68_Strong QC & QA_������.indd 68
64-68_Strong QC & QA_������.indd 68 22/2/2568 BE 12:04