This article discusses the 5 most common counterfeit foods in the US. If you want to get a detailed analysis of the global food sector, you can head on to the 15 most common counterfeit foods in the US.
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5. Cinnamon
No. of times repeated: 7
Instead of cinnamon, cassia is available in the vast majority of US stores. Ceylon, which is recognized as the “genuine” cinnamon, is related to cassia, which is mainly grown in China or Vietnam. Compared to the lighter, more scented Ceylon bark, the cassia bark is hotter and harsher. While Cassia consists of a single sheet of bark, Ceylon quills are made up of several paper-thin layers that are rolled up, making it very easy to distinguish between the two sticks. However, after the cinnamon is grounded, the brown dust that remains may not be Ceylon or Cassia at all.
4. Fish
No of times repeated: 8
Fish is a counterfeit food item due to various reasons. The fish sellers claim that fish originated from a particular origin, even though it’s sourced from somewhere else. The lower quality fish may be sold as the highest or most premium quality fish. Sellers add water or ice to increase the weight of the fish to earn more profit. Various chemicals are used on fish skin to make it look fresh and to attract more customers.
3. Honey
No. of times repeated: 12
Honey is the third most fraudulent food in the world, behind olive oil. American beekeepers filed a class-action lawsuit in 2021 to halt the shipment of fake honey from Asia. The beekeepers stated that True Honey Source has conspired with two importers and two honey packers to certify contaminated honey as genuine honey. Case studies have revealed that purported “honey” is actually high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or beet sugar.
2. Coffee
No. of times repeated: 12
Coffee is known as counterfeit food because in most cases the quality of coffee beans is not good enough and it’s mixed with other products to increase the quantity. Often the coffee is labeled as the best among all as it’s sourced from a particular region, whereas it’s sourced from somewhere else. The sellers might restack expired coffee and sell it as brand new. Mostly the coffee is not stored or processed properly but is still sold as a premium quality coffee.
1. Olive oil
No. of times repeated: 13
You can only go beyond reading the label when it comes to olive oil. A lot of olive oil that labels itself as “From Italy” is shipped into Italy and then exported again, so if it goes through one of the ports, it’s not legally a lie. Olive oil can be made fully from an affordable oil that has been enriched with beta-carotene and chlorophyll, or it may be blended with vegetable or soybean oil. You may search for the “extra-virgin” label, but according to one research, 69 percent of bottles with that label fail the test.
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