Science & Tech Spotlight: Geographic Origin of Food and Other Imports

Bad actors may falsify the geographic origin of products to illicitly sell goods or substitute premium products with cheaper products, which can threaten our economy and consumer safety. In 2021, the U.S. International Trade Commission estimated that U.S. commercial fishing may have lost nearly $61 million in operating income due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated seafood imports. Technologies that verify the origin of imported food and agricultural products, like seafood or wood, may help prevent fraud.