Vulnerabilities in the Animal By-Products Food System

The divergence of Animal By-Products (ABPs) unfit for human consumption back into the food chain became a control strategy priority for NFCU in 2021/22. This briefing identifies key areas of vulnerability in the ABP food system given recent changes to the landscape. Interest in the animal by-product system has increased in recent years because of the greater importance of resource efficiency, sustainability, and reducing livestock numbers. However, the complexity of the system, interaction (or the lack thereof) of multiple institutions and stakeholders in the system present concerns for food safety and potential opportunities for crime. The aim of this rapid topic brief was to allow the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) to identify key areas of vulnerability (if any) in the animal by-products system and to enable future programmes, policies, and research products to address them. The emphasis is on identifying areas of systemic vulnerability instead of solely process and technological oriented risks.