ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Quality Assurance International (QAI), an NSF company and leading provider of organic certification services, has released a comprehensive analysis identifying the top eight high-risk organic ingredients vulnerable to fraud in the global supply chain. This critical information serves as an essential resource for manufacturers, retailers and consumers seeking to ensure organic integrity in their products and purchases.
“As demand for organic products continues to grow, so does the incentive for fraud within the supply chain,” said Carey Allen, Director of Food Claims at QAI and NSF. “Our analysis provides stakeholders across the organic industry with actionable intelligence to strengthen verification protocols and protect the integrity of organic certification.”
The analysis, developed through rigorous evaluation of sources including USDA Agreements and Decisions, the National Organic Program (NOP) Enforcement Dashboard, Fraudulent Organic Certificates, Annual Oversight and Enforcement Reports and the Organic Integrity Database, which lists suspended and revoked farms and businesses, identifies the following high-risk categories:
- Grains and oilseeds: Corn, soybeans, wheat and various oils, particularly those imported from Eastern Europe, the Black Sea region and Asia
- Animal feed inputs: Alfalfa, soybean meal and feed premixes that are often under-tested and fraudulently labeled
- Spices and botanicals: Turmeric, black pepper, cumin and others sourced from regions known for fraudulent certificates
- Sweeteners: Honey, agave syrup and cane sugar, which are frequently adulterated or mislabeled
- Juice concentrates and dried fruit: Products that are particularly vulnerable when imported from Turkey, China or South America
- Livestock inputs and animal-derived products: Dairy, eggs, and frozen meat with limited verification of feed compliance
- Processed imports: Soy lecithin, glycerin and flavor extracts involving opaque international supply chains
- High-value specialty crops: Hemp/CBD, aloe vera and medicinal mushrooms used in supplements or other wellness products with high fraud incentives
The identification of these high-risk ingredients comes at a critical time, as the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule, which went into effect in March 2023, imposes stricter traceability and reporting requirements throughout the organic supply chain. Many of the food products may be under-tested or fraudulently labeled, with causes including supply and demand imbalances, a lack of distinguishing features and long, complex global supply chains.
“Fraudulent organic ingredients not only undermine consumer trust but can also significantly damage brand reputation and profitability,” said Allison McLeod, Technical Scheme Lead at QAI. “Our certification programs and verification services are specifically designed to help companies navigate these risks and ensure compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.”
QAI recommends that food and beverage manufacturers implement robust sourcing protocols, including comprehensive documentation and traceability measures for all organic ingredient suppliers. The company also highlights the value of cloud-based technology solutions such as NSF TraQtion, which enable real-time management of traceability records and organic documentation.
As an accredited, independent third-party certification body, QAI remains committed to upholding the highest standards of organic integrity through rigorous certification processes, targeted testing programs, and ongoing monitoring of high-risk supply chains.
Learn more about organic certification and supply chain risk management here.
NSF
NSF is an independent, global services organization dedicated to improving human and planet health for more than 80 years by developing public health standards and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services and digital solutions to the food, nutrition, water, life sciences and consumer goods industries. NSF serves 40,000 clients in 110 countries and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Medical Device Safety.
— NSF
