I recently presented for the fourth time at the CIFSQ conference on ‘Trends Update and the Emerging Science of Food Fraud Prevention.’ I reconnected with hosts Dr. Junshi CHEN and Dr. Yongning WU (both of the Chinese National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment – CFSA).
Reference: Presentation – Trends Update and the Emerging Science of Food Fraud Prevention, By Dr. John W Spink, Food Fraud Prevention Academy, at China International Food Safety and Quality Conference (CIFSQ), Beijing [Virtual Presentation], November 3, 2023.
PDF of my presentation: Trends Update and the Emerging Science of Food Fraud Prevention
Conference website: http://www.chinafoodsafety.com/
My Engagement in China
It was great to interact again with the conference planning committee. Dr. Yongning WU (Chief Technical Officer, Chinese National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center – CFSA) and Dr. Junshi CHEN (Chief Scientific Advisor, CFSA). Dr. WU was the lead author of our co-authored Food Fraud Chapter in Food Safety in China: Past, Present, and Future. Dr. CHEN is one of the editors. Dr. CHEN stated that this book was created to be the most widely adopted and influential resource for the Chinese food industry and scientists.
Figure: Book Cover Image of Food Safety in China: Past, Present, and Future (in Chinese)
Figure: Attendees at a Planning Meeting for the 13th Chinese Five Year Plan regarding the Food Safety Focus Area: (left to right: Dr. John W SPINK, Dr. Junshi CHEN, and Dr. Yongning WU)
My Presentation: Food Fraud Prevention as a Science
I was invited to present again at this conference for the fourth time. This year, my presentation was ‘Trends Update and the Emerging Science of Food Fraud Prevention.’ I summarized some of our recent research and activity. A key is that even though there are so many intense and different types of food supply chain disruptions, the impact on food fraud is really just variations of already known vulnerabilities. If there is a broad focus on all types of fraud and for all products – with a management system process to review global events – then we need to just follow the same methods. My second key point is that, over time, food fraud prevention is becoming a science. From the first entry for the word ‘science’ from Webster’s dictionary, science is defined as “knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths, or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method.” The food fraud prevention system of knowledge includes unique terminology and specialized methods, and it has been developed using the scientific method.
China International Food Safety and Quality Conference (CIFSQ)
The CIFSQ event has been one of the world’s leading food safety conferences. I am honored to have been one of seven speakers from the USA out of 153 total speakers. China has had such high growth over the last ten or twenty years that the focus on protecting the food supply chain has been very active. I am sorry to have only presented online since the days spent at the conference have always been absolutely incredible in terms of my learning from speakers and also talking to the attendees. Thinking back to previous conference events, this event was also a great place to meet my other international colleagues, even US-based folks.
Takeaway Points
- Protecting the global food supply chain requires interaction and engagement with all colleagues. China has been an especially important worldwide market and scientific partner.
- Food fraud is still a significant concern around the world. While the topic doesn’t seem as hot as a few years ago, it is undeniably still one of the most crucial global food supply chain concerns.
- Food fraud prevention is evolving to become a separate science – though there is still a very long way to go.
Reference:
- Resource: WU, Yongning, BING, Shao, HONG, Miao, JING, Zhang, & SPINK, John. (2016). Chapter: Food Fraud, In Food Safety in China: Past, Present, and Future (in Chinese), Editors: Chen, J, and Jen, JJ., CSP Books, Beijing, ISBN 978-7-5046-7061-8, URL: www.cpspbooks.com.cn
- WU, Yongning; HONG, Miao; BING, Shao; ZHANG, Jing; SPINK, John & MOYER, Douglas C (2017). Chapter 15: Food Fraud, In: Food Safety in China – Past, Present, and Future (English):, Science, Technology, Management and Regulation, Editors Jen, Joseph Jwu-shan and Chen, Junshi, Wiley & Sons, New York City, ISBN: 978-1-119-23796-9, URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119238102.ch16