Edible imposters
Knowing what’s in our food and where it comes from is more important to many of us than ever. But certain ingredients are susceptible to fraudsters who add extra bulk, mislabel products, or substitute products for something else entirely. Estimates value the global counterfeit food industry at over £30 billion ($40 bn) per year, and it’s widely believed that much food fraud goes undetected. Here are some of the world’s most forged ingredients, from coffee and olive oil cut with cheaper substances to shocking fake meat and fish scandals.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the world's most forged ingredients – counting down to the most faked food of all.
We've used studies, research and the latest facts and figures to rank each food based on how frequently they're forged or mis-sold.
Ella Buchan
01 April 2025
News
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