A United Nations agency focused on human rights is planning a report that covers food safety and fraud.
A working group at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking input to several questions. A report will be presented at a session of the Human Rights Council in June 2026.
The main objective is to identify progress made, and remaining challenges, in advancing rights-based food systems that address food fraud, while developing food security.
The report will also analyze the role of firms in the agri-business and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) value chains to integrate human rights in all aspects of food production, processing, distribution, packaging and labeling.
According to OHCHR, concerns have emerged on how the design and implementation of food security programs, especially the rise in food fraud practices — including economically motivated adulteration (EMA); misleading food labeling and advertising; fraudulent or unsustainable packaging; seed misinformation and theft; and illicit agri-food trade — may hinder progress on the enjoyment of the rights to life, health, water, food and a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
A 2024 World Trade Organization report highlighted fake, substandard, smuggled and illegal agri-foods cost the industry an estimated $30 billion to 50 billion per year. Food fraud by businesses and other actors in the supply chain can harm consumer health and exacerbate food waste.
Example questions
More than 20 questions were posed by the working group. One asks how can nations better advance human rights-compatible food and agricultural laws and policies that ensure responsible business conduct in all aspects of the supply chain to address food fraud and enhance food safety, including consumer protection, responsible sourcing, food traceability and authenticity, online food controls, and accurate labeling.
The working group wants to know what mechanisms or processes should exist at the state level to assess and ensure that food production, processing, distribution, packaging and labeling address food fraud, enhance food safety and do not adversely impact human rights.
They also ask if current contracts, bilateral investment treaties and international trade agreements aid or constrain efforts to address food fraud and illicit agri-food trade.
Another question covers what role companies in the food and agriculture sector should play to integrate human rights across the value chain to address food fraud, enhance food safety and respect human rights.
Potential respondents are asked if they are aware of any cases regarding business-related human rights abuses in the sector, particularly in the context of food safety and food fraud.
The group also wants to know if people have seen food sector investors, financial institutions, insurance companies and other businesses play a role in preventing and mitigating, or in exacerbating, the negative impacts of food fraud on human rights.
Responses can be sent in Word or PDF format by email to hrc-wg-business@un.org. The deadline for submission is Dec. 1. comments should be no more than 2,500 words and can be in English, French, or Spanish. Unless otherwise requested, all submissions will be made public.
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