Information request for the number of reports of suspected food crimes FSS has received and number of instances of alleged food crimes detected by FSS

Your request was about the following information:

Q1. In EACH of the last two full financial years (2022/23 and 2023/24) and so far this financial year (i.e. April 1, 2024 onwards) how many reports of suspected food crime has FSS received? Please break the figures down for each year to show the types of alleged food crime reported to FSS

Q2. In EACH of the last two full financial years (2022/23 and 2023/24) and so far this financial year (i.e. April 1, 2024 onwards) how many instances of alleged food crime have been detected by FSS? Please break the figures down to provide details of the crimes detected (i.e. theft, unlawful processing, waste diversion, adulteration, substitution, misrepresentation of origin, quality, provenance or benefits, misrepresentation of durability date, and document fraud). Please also provide details of the food involved in each of these crimes, i.e. what animals or foodstuffs were stolen, what type of foods were adulterated etc

The Food Law Code of Practise (Scotland) 2019 defines food crime as “serious dishonesty that impacts detrimentally on either the safety or the authenticity of food”. Conduct is considered serious where it is likely to result in significant risks to public safety, substantial gain to the offender or loss to consumer, pan-regional or transnational offending, or significant public concerns.

Lower level and localised reports are normally referred to the food authorities (i.e. local authorities in Scotland). Food Standards Scotland (FSS) may refer reports to other enforcement agencies, e.g. theft in Scotland is predominantly dealt with by the police.

In response to your questions:

A1. Information received in this regard would be treated and recorded as intelligence. In this regard disclosing this information would prejudice an investigation so it is exempt under 35(1)(a) (the prevention or detection of crime). 

A2. The following represents food crime detected and reported by FSS: