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Food Fraud and Counterfeit Cotton
Article

Food Fraud and Counterfeit Cotton

The Detectives Untangling the Global Supply Chain

Samanth Subramanian
The Guardian, 2021
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Concrete Examples
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Labels don’t always accurately reflect a product’s composition. Samanth Subramanian explains in The Guardian that the complexity of the modern supply chain presents manufacturers with tremendous challenges in avoiding fraud and determining the origins of their raw materials. New Zealand-based Oritain helps companies trace raw materials back to their sources by identifying elements in their home environment. Subramanian offers an in-depth portrait of the company and its pioneering detective work.

Take-Aways

  • The label on Welspun’s cotton sheets said they contained cotton from Egypt; they did not.
  • Complex supply chains make it more difficult for companies to manage every step in sourcing raw materials.
  • The New Zealand-based company Oritain uses element analysis to trace raw materials back to their sources.

About the Author

Author Samanth Subramanian contributes regularly to The Guardian.

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