Food fraud and food defense

Abstract

This chapter begins with an overview of how relatively recent changes in consumer behavior have resulted in an increase in vulnerability and risk from crimes related to food fraud and food defense. A deep look at the history of change in British food adulteration legislation exposes how many of today's definitions relate to ideas that date back some three hundred years. Significant policy change in the United States have primarily focused on food safety and even intentional adulteration but have not focused as much on food fraud and food defense as one might assume. An exploration of modern definitions of food fraud and food defense is supported through alignments with five “food reputation approaches,” and even with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, the outcome of three notable federal court cases involving food companies highlight how laws and the courts may interpret food crimes.