| Abstract: |
The latest research, commission by Which?, revealed a quarter of samples of dried oregano tested contained other ingredients. These ingredients were found to make up between 30% and 70% of the oregano products tested. The study had unearthed a “major problem” within the herbs and spices sector, claimed Elliott, who is the author of an influential report into food fraud commissioned by the UK government following the 2013 horsemeat scandal.“Based on intelligence received, we decided to determine if there are issues with the authenticity of oregano supplied in the UK and Ireland,” said Elliott, who is also director of Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast.‘Major problem’ “Clearly we have identified a major problem and it may well reflect issues with other herbs and spices that enter the British Isles through complex supply chains. Much better controls are needed to protect the consumer from purchasing heavily contaminated products.”The study found that 19 of the 78 samples of dried oregano looked at contained ingredients other than oregano. Samples were bought from a range of shops in the UK and Ireland and from online retailers. |
