The cost of food fraud in the United Kingdom could be as much as £2 billion ($2.7 billion) per year, according to researchers.
Research from the University of Portsmouth estimates that food fraud costs the UK economy between £400 million ($540 million) and £2 billion ($2.7 billion) annually.
The study examines offenses including food substitution, false labeling, and document fraud. Consequences can include financial losses for businesses, damage to confidence in food supply chains and serious risks to public health, such as fake spirits that contain industrial chemicals.