The hottest Consumer Awareness Substack posts right now

Honey is a common target for food fraud because it's valuable and easy to dilute or mix with cheaper sweeteners. Many consumers may not realize that some honey products on the market are fake or mixed with other substances.
Testing for honey authenticity is complicated and results can be inaccurate if the reference samples used are not reliable. There are various methods to detect fraud, but they often require additional confirmation.
Changes in the U.S. food regulatory landscape could affect how food is made and what additives are allowed. This might lead to adjustments in popular food products, which consumers might find surprising in taste and appearance.

There have been many mysterious food poisonings, especially in South Africa, affecting children. It's alarming and the actual causes are not clear yet.
Illegal pesticides may be contaminating food sold in local shops, which is a big concern for public health. Experts and authorities are looking into how this is happening.
Food safety regulations are being updated to better control who can sell food and how it's handled. This might help prevent future poisonings and boost food safety.

Seafood fraud is a big problem around the world, involving practices like mislabeling fish and using harmful drugs in aquaculture. There are even cases where cheap seafood is sold as more expensive types.
Recent studies found that popular alternatives to plastic, like paper and bamboo straws, contain unhealthy chemicals called PFAS. This is surprising since these products are often marketed as eco-friendly.
A recent food safety news story highlighted a rare situation where a recall was canceled due to a lab error. It reminds us that food safety investigations can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes.

Companies using the term 'circular' for eco-friendly branding may not always follow through with sustainable practices.
To combat 'circular washing', establishing a clear definition of circularity is essential.
Regulation and accountability are crucial to ensure businesses actually implement environmentally friendly practices.

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There is a searchable list of recent food fraud incidents from 2025. This can help people easily find information on specific cases.
Incidents before September 2022 are stored in a database on Trello for reference. It's good to have a place to look for older information too.
New insights about food vulnerabilities are still being added to this database, showing that the issue of food fraud is ongoing. Keeping up with this information is important for everyone's safety.

Many brands, including big players like Zalando, have faced scrutiny for greenwashing, prompting the need for clear sustainability information.
Consumers face challenges in navigating sustainability claims in the fashion industry, raising questions about who defines 'sustainable' and the responsibility of companies.
Stricter regulations, technology like blockchain, and systemic industry changes are crucial in combating greenwashing and promoting genuine sustainability.