An increasing quantity of resources, that were produced in Europe in the past, nowadays originates from Southeast Asia or Africa. As for vitamin supplements, even 90 % are produced in China. However, food control is still inefficient in these countries. The oigin of many ingredients is often no longer transparent.

The probability of food fraud depends essentially on three factors:

1. Is there direct contact between manufacturers and consumers? - Direct contact assures an active feedback loop and hence immediate control. The producer feels obliged to the consumer.
2. Code of honor - Do producers and retailers adhere to appropriate value systems and quality...

Each food scandal is the result of - simplified - either a mistake or intention. The desire to obtain a financial or economic advantage leads some food producers to fraudulent conduct. Others, in turn, misinterpret risks and situations in a grossly negligent way.

However, food fraud is not a phenomenon of modern times. It has existed ever since food was traded for...

70 years ago this very day, the United Nations adopted the Declaration of Human Rights. It assumes that all people have the same fundamental rights - regardless of their nationality, their ethnic group or their religion. Although the Human Rights are recognised by most states in principle, compliance with the declaration is still not a matter of course in many countries. This...

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Food safety is an issue of growing significance in our globalized world. In order to reduce costs, the food industry increasingly relies on raw materials produced in Africa or Southeast Asia. In developing countries, however, food controls are often unreliable or completely lacking.

At the Vetmeduni Vienna, the working group "Global Food...

Today is the International Day for Tolerance, launched in 1995 by UNESCO. Tolerance allows a decent coexistence of different cultures and religions by allowing other opinions, actions and conventions.

Veterinarians without Borders believe that the ancient knowledge and traditions of indigenous peoples are a very valuable good. Therefore, we collect and document traditional...

Vétérinaires sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse) is an associated organisation of Veterinarians without Borders Austria. The organisation supports the most vulnerable populations in the Horn of Africa and West Africa whose livelihoods and survival depend on livestock farming.

As the current Executive Director will retire,...

November 10th is World Science Day. This day is to remind us of the responsibility that researchers all over the world bear for humanity and the environment. Although it is a human right to benefit from scientific advancements, that right can hardly be claimed, especially in developing countries. Concerning research matters, people in these countries are mostly dependent on foreign...