Campden BRI tackles food fraud
Campden BRI has been awarded a contract by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), an executive agency of DEFRA, to provide analytical testing services.
The two-year contract – with the possibility of extension – is to analyse olive oil and a range of other products including sugar, hops, grass, beef, cereals and counter-analyses for milk products. This is the 20th consecutive year that Campden BRI has held a contract with RPA or its predecessor.
A significant part of the contract is the testing of olive oil to determine whether the grade (eg ‘extra virgin’) is correctly declared on the label. This is especially important this year as a combination of climatic effects, olive fly infestation and a bacterial infection (xylella fastidiosa) has resulted in a disastrous Italian olive crop. Combined with a poor crop in Spain, this has significantly reduced the 2014 olive oil harvest, driving up prices, thereby enhancing the incentive for fraud.
Dr Julian South, head of chemistry and biochemistry at Campden BRI, says, “Food authenticity continues to be a high profile issue and we are delighted to be chosen again by the RPA to help industry and government meet the challenge of beating food fraud. This contract reflects our position as a trusted and respected centre providing technical excellence to the food and drink industry.”
