Eating Lies: The Alarming Truth Behind Food Industries

Horse-meat mislabeled as beef. Honey diluted with cheap sugar syrups. Counterfeit extra-virgin olive oil. Food crime has become a multi-billion dollar industry, impacting everything from the most affordable to the most expensive ingredients. Approximately 10% of our consumed food is believed to be adulterated. “What we know for sure is that food fraud is growing exponentially and it’s more and more worrying,“ states one consumer advocate. Criminal syndicates have infiltrated the global food supply chain, eroding consumer trust in labels and the contents of their plates. In Italy, the mafia controls entire sectors of the food industry, while worldwide, well-organized criminal networks collaborate to exploit intricate supply chains. Scams vary from intentionally mislabeling inferior products as premium items to substituting one foodstuff for something entirely different. The profits are staggering. But what risks does this pose to consumers? How can we detect food fraud? And what measures can be taken to halt it? In this investigation, we shadow the food fraud brigades, shedding light on the limited knowledge we have about what we’re consuming. From the olive groves of Italy to the fish markets of France and the abattoirs of Poland, this film takes you on a culinary journey of a distinct kind. It’s a global exploration into the realm of counterfeit food, revealing the hidden complexities of this industry.