Fighting Food Fraud - from Hassall to Horsemeat

Synopsis

Food fraud has been around since food was traded and the further food travels the more likely it is to be adulterated. Frederick Accum and later Arthur Hill Hassall were among the first to apply science to the detection of food fraud leading to the 1860 Act to prevent the adulteration of food and drink.

Today, about a year on from the start of the Horsemeat Scandal, food fraud is still in the news with the interim report of the Elliott Review highlighting a lack of laboratory capacity and calling for a new food crime unit to be set up.

Today's food fraudsters can apply highly sophisticated techniques and make it very difficult , if not impossible, for the public to detect that food fraud has occurred. Public Analysts need therefore to apply similarly sophisticated analytical techniques to detect it. This talk will touch historical and current aspect of food fraud and the techniques to detect them.

Speaker

Duncan Campbell, West Yorkshire Analytical Services

Duncan Cambell studies environmental chemistry and carried out postgraduate and postdoctoral research in soil chemistry before starting work in the Public Analyst field. He is now one of 29 practicing Public Analysts in the UK and is immediate Past President of the Association of Public Analysts. During the Horsemeat Scandal his views were widely sought by the media and others. He gave evidence to the Select Committee investigation into meat contamination and to the Elliot Review.

Programme

Accessibility Grants

SCI accessibility grants are available to support SCI members with disabilities, long term health conditions, those who require a carer, and members who are nursing parents to attend SCI events. Download an application form to apply for a grant.

Venue and Contact

Fees

Booking Process/Deadlines

Booking terms and conditions

CPD Info

SCI Members attending this meeting are able to claim CPD points.

Additional Info

Exhibition and Sponsorship

An exhibition will take place alongside the conference for companies and related organisations who may wish to exhibit. Please email conferences@soci.org for further information and prices. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.