Sorting the Beef from the Bull

The Science of Food Fraud Forensics

By: Richard Evershed, Nicola Temple

Narrated by: Thomas Judd

Horsemeat in our burgers, melamine in our infants' milk, artificial colors in our fish and fruit... As our urban lifestyle takes us further and further away from our food sources, there are increasing opportunities for dishonesty, duplicity, and profit-making shortcuts. Food adulteration, motivated by money, is an issue that has spanned the globe throughout human history. Whether it's a matter of making a good quality oil stretch a bit further by adding a little extra "something" or labelling a food falsely to appeal to current consumer trends - it's all food fraud, and it costs the food industry billions of dollars each year. The price to consumers may be even higher, with some paying for these crimes with their health and, in some cases, their lives. So how do we sort the beef from the bull (or horse, as the case may be)?

This audiobook explains the scientific tools and techniques that revealed the century's biggest food fraud scams. It looks in detail at the biggest scams in recent times; drawing on the lead author's extensive experience at the forefront of the fight against these fraudsters, it goes on to explore the arms race between scientists and adulterers as better techniques for detection spur more creative and sophisticated means of adulteration. Finally, it looks at the up-and-coming techniques and devices that will help the industry and consumers fight food fraud in the future.

Engagingly written by Richard Evershed and Nicola Temple, this book lifts the lid on the forensics involved and brings the full story of a fascinating and underreported applied science to light.

©2016 Richard Evershed & Nicola Temple (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

food fraud!

(As posted in Goodreads)
Sigh. I unfortunately am of two minds on this: first of all, it's positively disgusting what people attempt to and succeed in doing to global foodstuffs; second of all, so many particulars are, to me, totally unimportant and overemphasized by today's American society. That being said, when an item is sold and/or LABELED as a particular thing – even "organic" which is a misused and a totally misunderstood thing – it DAM* well ought to be that thing!
It was interesting and useful to read that there are techniques available to examine the truth of what's being sold or advertised, but it's truly depressing how many types of the various things that we eat and or drink are being faked and or altered! Meats, honey, milk, cheese, alcohols, juices – you name it. I'm happy to see that some countries appear to be taking things seriously, and I'm extremely happy that I don't live in China or Maui, or any number of primarily Asian or African countries, but I don't doubt that even in the US, if people think they can get away with it, they probably will. Fortunately, for the most part, our government agencies prohibit or dampen needs and desires of the food fraudsters.
An informative look and study!