Integrity in business is a prerequisite for trust. Integrity in the food trade is the key to long-term consumer spending. Shocks have hit food producers and consumers, and confidence has been eroded by scandals that distort the food industry. Matís is a participant in the project MatarHeilindi.
Well-known examples of scandals that have shaken the food industry include 1985, where ethylene glycol (often used as a solvent and antifreeze) was found in measurable amounts in Austrian wines. In 2008, melamine was found in powdered milk in China. Many people still remember that in 2013 there was something about horsemeat being sold as beef. Then we can mention OPSON features Europol during the year this year and last year which dealt with cheating in the food trade and most recently analysis fipronils in eggs. It is worth mentioning that legal provisions on the responsibility of food companies for the safety of the food they produce, handle and distribute.
Matís has participated in the project MatarHeilindi (e. FoodIntegrity) from the beginning of 2014. The project aims to develop methods to detect and prevent fraud in the European food industry. The project is led by Fera, the British Food and Drug Administration. The project is funded by the Seventh European Framework Program for Research and Development.
MatarHeilindi deal with food that is whole / intact or in perfect condition, ie that buyers can safely deliver the product they think they are buying. Consumers or other stakeholders in the European food value chain need to be assured of safety, reliability and quality. Integrity in the food industry is a key factor in increasing the value of the continent's bioeconomy. The integrity of European foods is constantly threatened by fraudulent labels or imitations sold to reap the benefits of its added value. The project is intended to be a focal point in international coordination in the use of research and development to ensure the integrity of European food with the participation of the project's core group.
Further information about the project is provided Jónas R. Viðarsson, director of Matís.