Environmental Impacts

Augustyniak, K. (2019). Plant Growing From Hands [Photograph]. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://www.growwithfarm.com/four-ways-energize-financial-marketing/

There are numerous reasons why people should avoid food fraud to protect their health and their pockets, but it is important to also remember the environmental danger food fraud poses
With the growing demand for organic food, and the lax laws in regards to what qualifies as organic, the opportunity for food fraud increases
The seafood industry is of particular concern in regards to food fraud because there are so many environmental concerns that can result from it and seafood labels often provide very little information

Food Ingredients Europe. (2019). Organic Food Fraud [Photograph]. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://www.figlobal.com/fieurope/visit/news-and-updates/tackling-europes-organic-market-challenges

Organic Food Fraud

Organic food has a high risk of being fraudulent because it can be sold for higher prices and there is an increasing demand for it
It is difficult to tell, based on look, if food is organic or not, so consumers must trust labeling. However, food does not have to be 100% organic to be labeled as such
Organic food is food produced without fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, etc. and is considered much better for animals and the environment
When distributors mislabel food as organic, it takes money away from truly organic companies and provides it instead to those who are hurting the environment
A well known example of this is when, in 2017, tens of millions of pounds of non-organic corn and soybeans were shipped from Eastern Europe and labeled 'organic' in the US

(CBC News, 2011; Pomranz, 2018)

Oceana Canada. (n.d.). Canada Has a Seafood Fraud Problem [Photograph]. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://www.oceana.ca/en/blog/canada-has-seafood-fraud-problem

Seafood fraud can be an major environmental concern on many levels
Oceana Canada tested seafood mislabeling and found that 30% of mislabeled seafood was either an endangered, threatened or vulnerable species
When less expensive, and more plentiful fish are labelled as a more expensive and less plentiful fish, it gives people the impression that vulnerable species are more abundant than in reality
Fish that are illegally caught, meaning endangered species, fishing in closed areas, fishing out of season, or using prohibited gear, often find their way into the market by being mislabeled as a legal company
SeaChoice partnered with the University of Guelph Centre for Biodiversity Genomics’ Life Scanner program to test seafood in grocery stores across Canada
Found that only 1% seafood was labeled not what it said it was but that 25% of seafood is mislablled
"Canada only requires seafood labels to display the species’ common name. However, having additional information about seafood allows buyers to make decisions with more confidence, whether they’re choosing food for its environmental sustainability, social responsibility, health reasons, supporting local fishers and fish farmers or simply wanting to know exactly what’s in a package"

(Foster, 2017)

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