Food fraud is driven by opportunity, and opportunity grows with supply pressure, price gaps and changes of origin or supplier. This practical session for Coles suppliers explores where fraud risk arises and how understanding your own vulnerabilities helps focus assurance activity where it adds most value. We’ll explain how deterrence works and introduce two testing tools in plain terms: stable isotope analysis for assessing origin and production claims, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for checking species and ingredient integrity. We’ll also cover how to investigate unexpected results and turn findings into effective action. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your responsibilities and how to build a proportionate, risk-based program in which each check has a clear purpose
The Speaker: Alison Johnson | Managing Director | Food Forensics
Alison Johnson is the founder and Managing Director of Food Forensics, a UK specialist in food authenticity, origin verification and supply-chain integrity. With a background in the meat industry, she works with retailers, manufacturers and suppliers to help them understand their fraud risks and prioritise assurance where it matters most. Food Forensics combines risk intelligence, accredited testing and digital reference sampling, so that every activity, from deterrence to investigation, has a clear purpose. Alison speaks regularly on food fraud and supply-chain integrity across the food industry.
