The compliance challenge
Food fraud requirements apply across GFSI-recognised standards, and assessments must cover every raw material with a documented methodology, current intelligence and proportionate mitigation.
Assessments that score every material as low risk without justification, or that have not been reviewed since they were written, are common audit findings.
About this service
VACCP work assesses each raw material for vulnerability to substitution, dilution, mislabelling, counterfeiting, unapproved enhancement and origin misrepresentation.
Vulnerability is scored using a documented method that considers supply chain complexity, economic drivers, historical fraud data and control effectiveness, with mitigation applied where vulnerability is significant.
Scope of support
- Food fraud team and methodology definition
- Raw material, packaging and ingredient inventory
- Vulnerability assessment for each material
- Supply chain complexity and sourcing review
- Economic driver and market intelligence review
- Historical fraud data and horizon scanning sources
- Assessment of existing controls and their effectiveness
- Documented mitigation plan for significant vulnerabilities
- Authenticity testing and verification programs
- Supplier assurance linkage and approval requirements
- Specification and certificate verification controls
- Annual review and trigger-based reassessment
How the consultancy works
- 1
Scope and team
Define materials in scope and assemble the assessment team.
- 2
Intelligence
Gather fraud intelligence and supply chain information for each material.
- 3
Assessment
Score vulnerability using a consistent, documented method.
- 4
Mitigation
Define proportionate controls for significant vulnerabilities.
- 5
Documentation
Produce the assessment and mitigation plan in audit-ready form.
- 6
Review
Set review frequency and reassessment triggers.
Relevant standards
- BRCGS food fraud and raw material vulnerability requirements
- FSSC 22000 food fraud mitigation additional requirement
- SQF food fraud vulnerability assessment requirements
Who this suits
- Sites using imported, high-value or commodity ingredients
- Businesses with complex or broker-based supply chains
- Sites with audit findings on food fraud assessments
- Importers and brand owners
Compliance and operational benefits
- A defensible, documented vulnerability assessment
- Mitigation proportionate to actual risk
- Clear linkage between fraud risk and supplier approval
- A maintained review cycle rather than a one-off document