The fresh produce industry needs to makes sure it is not the next big scare in the food sector by investing in new origin-testing technology.
Speaking at the Re:Fresh conference, Veryan Bliss of Suncrop said that the fallout from the ‘horsegate’ scandal in the protein sector has been far-reaching. She said that the food industry is coming under increasing scrutiny and it is inevitable there will be soon be focus on the fresh produce sector.
A method of origin testing process using stable isotope ratio analysis has been developed by Re:Fresh winners Food Forensics. Bliss explained that the technology represents an “environmental fingerprint of origin” which works by analysing the composition, and therefore the origin, of products.
Director of Food Forensics Alison Johnson said the technology has working data sets for 15 products including strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and asparagus.
Expansion is on the horizon as the company has just doubled its capacity with another machine. Johnson said: “Going forward we are keen to work with suppliers to gain access to authentic products.”
Bliss said: “It is the missing link in the process of verification of origin. We need to ask ourselves: ‘Is our paper-trail any more robust than the protein sector’s?’”
She added: “FERA are using it, retailers are using it, and more worryingly, the media are increasingly using it. We need to be ready to prove the authenticity of our products.”
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