Food Fraud Records 2025

In 2025, detected food fraud incidents varied by quarter, reflecting both lab sampling and systemic supply chain pressures. Q1 peaked at 14,1%, echoing global reports of heightened product substitution and adulteration in high-value commodities like nuts, dairy, and cereals, driven by price volatility and species substitution risks. Q2 declined to 6,6%, influenced by seasonal harvests, shifting enforcement focus, and improved market surveillance. Q3 rose again to 10,1%, while Q4 moderated to 6,9%, reflecting cyclical pressures from tariffs, transport costs, and evolving sourcing strategies. Honey, syrup, sugar, and fruits & vegetables dominated early-year detections, with dairy/cheese surging mid-year. Lab findings capture not only adulteration probability but also effects of regional price swings, multi-tiered sourcing complexity, and enhanced reporting calibration worldwide.​

2025 Totals - by Fraud Type

2025 Totals - by Product Group

Added sugar adulteration remained the most frequent fraud type, reflecting broader global trends of rising food fraud. Mislabeling of geographical origin and ingredient substitution also increased, driven by stretched supply networks. Fraud schemes are becoming more sophisticated, with counterfeit documentation and false identity scams embedded in economic incentive structures, influenced by commodity pricing pressures and regional instability across global food markets.

Spices, dairy/cheese, and honey/syrup/sugar continued to show high non-conformity rates due to economic value and complex sourcing. Spices and honey are prone to dilution, while dairy fraud often involves ingredient substitution. Non-alcoholic beverages and grains/crops remained significant, driven by crop yield fluctuations, rising input costs, and shifting trade routes. These patterns highlight that even traditionally lower-risk categories face growing fraud exposure, consistent with academic and industry analyses.

Data source: Imprint Analytics GmbH

Note: the records and figures from laboratory findings are a direct reflection of trends and real-time conditions. Nevertheless, they can be biased by different factors, such as types of submitted samples or relative risk in certain samples regarding adulteration probability.