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IBFAN Global evidence collection

Examples of food fraud: misleading and deceptive claims

IBFAN's concerns regarding the prevention and control of food fraud are primarily focussed on labelling and information for products marketed globally for infant and young child feeding and “nutritional” products for pregnant and lactating women.

LabellingDigital marketingCross-promotionVulnerable populations

Food fraud framing

Misrepresentation

Labelling or marketing a food product in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive.

Misrepresentation and concealment

IBFAN considers that misleading and deceptive claims on labels and marketing tools qualify as misrepresentation and concealment.

Documented examples

Examples of misleading and deceptive labelling and marketing.

Case 01
Timor-Leste2021Emergency response

Maternal milks for pregnant and lactating mothers distributed in Timor-Leste emergency response (2021)

Maternal milks for pregnant and lactating mothers distributed in Timor-Leste emergency response (2021) to malnourished and illiterate mothers. The risk also includes being mistakenly given to infants and young children.

Case 02
Timor-LesteYear pendingCross-promotion

Lactamil maternal product

“Maternal milk promoted in Timor-Leste Danoné Lactamil, misleadingly and confusingly cross-promoted with infant formula for newborn babies. Is this for the mother or the baby? This ultra-processed product targets breastfeeding mothers, undermining confidence in breastfeeding and normal family foods”.

Case 03
Türkiye2025Digital marketing

Lactamil - Instagram (2025)

Instagram (2025). This product is from Turkey.

Case 04
Türkiye2026

SMA Optipro

Türkiye SMA Optipro 2026.

Case 05
Türkiye2020Immunity claims

Aptamil immunity claims

Türkiye Aptamil immunity claims 2020.

Case 06
Country / year pendingDigital marketing

Bobbie digital marketing

Bobbie digital marketing.

Case 07
Country / year pendingDirect to consumers

Nestlé Compleat / FSMPs

Compleat packshots - “selling such products direct to consumers” - “REAL FOOD INGREDIENTS”.

Case 08
Pakistan2019 / 2022“Recovery from diarrhea”

Nestlé Lactogen / Lactogrow “Recover”

“NESTLÈ LACTOGROW Recover is here! Give your 1-3 year old relief from diarrhea so he can continue to Grow Happy this summer and all year long!”

Case 09
Argentinaagosto 2026INFO digital

MONITOREO ETIQUETADO IBFAN ARG

Dra Patricia Barrios Skrok.

Alimento lácteo sabor natural apóyalo en su desarrollo mental

NEUROPRO desarrollo cerebral

NIDO 3 fortalece huesos y MUSCULOS

NIDO protege crecimiento y aprendizaje

Leches para bebes family

nutrilon profutura ( inmunobutrientes)

descuentos

IBFAN submission to CCFICS28

IBFAN considers that misleading and deceptive claims on labels and marketing tools qualify as misrepresentation and concealment as noted in the Draft Guidelines Section 4. Types of Food Fraud.

Both the “misrepresentation” and “concealment” of information are critical labelling and information examples in order to protect vulnerable consumers.