Robert Hanner, a professor in U of G’s Department of Integrative Biology, authored an article on combating food fraud in the latest edition of Canadian Food Business magazine.
Globalization has created complex food supply chains, making it more difficult to trace the origins of a food, writes Hanner. He discusses some of the new technologies developed at U of G being used to trace the origins of food through DNA barcoding technologies. Many of these technologies are available to the commercial sector, says Hanner.
Read more about DNA barcoding at U of G.
Hanner says the Arrell Food Institute at U of G is also playing a key role in knowledge transfer and translation of research to the commercial sector in partnership with the Food from Thought initiative.
He says we all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our food products. With increased consumer awareness, evolving legislation, globalization and technological innovation, the business landscape is changing, he says, adding that companies willing to embrace change have plenty of new opportunities.