The organic industry is no longer the niche market it was several decades ago. To support growing demand across multiple demographics and locations, retailers and manufacturers are relying on complex and intricate international supply chains.

This growth has increased financial incentives for bad actors to misrepresent and market conventional products as organic.

To better support the industry in identifying higher-risk ingredients, QAI [Quality Assurance International] completed a 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.

The analysis revealed patterns in vulnerability and specific categories that may face verification challenges, complex supply chains or significant price differentials, creating a market ripe for food fraud.

The implementation of the USDA’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule in 2023 marked a significant step forward in addressing vulnerabilities to food fraud. Requirements for improved recordkeeping, mandatory certificates for each transaction, unannounced inspections, and fraud prevention procedures are already enhancing traceability throughout the organic supply chain.

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