Information request for the number of incidents of food crime FSS has recorded in each of the full financial years 2024 & 2025 to March 31 2026

Your request was about the following information:

In July 2025, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said it had found 35cl bottles disguised to look like genuine Glen's vodka, but which actually contained isopropyl. I thought incidents of this nature would have been covered by the FOI data I requested but I can’t see it there. 

If the incident with the fake Glen’s Vodka bottles doesn’t fall under substitution, would you be able to let me know what that incident would be recorded under. It may be that it is separately recorded as food fraud. 

As such, can you provide me with information showing how many incidents of food crime FSS has recorded in EACH of the last two full financial years (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 and April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026). 

For clarity, this would be any incidents of theft (i.e. stolen livestock that could make it’s way into the food chain), unlawful processing, waste diversion, adulteration, substitution, misrepresentation, document fraud (i.e. a document which falsely states the movement of livestock, traceability of a food product, forged import documents or a fake certificate attempting to prove any claims such as organic certification). Please break the figures down for each year to show the nature of the incident (i.e. what type of food crime it involved and what the products/foodstuffs involved were). 

Please also provide details as to whether or not the incident has resulted in a prosecution or if that case remains active (i.e. still going through the courts). I am aware there will be incidents that FSS can’t reveal yet as it may be that they are still ongoing and so can’t be reported on yet, but I am hoping you can provide me with what data you are able to report on.

1. Theft (including livestock) 

- All reports of theft, including livestock, are a matter for the police. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) may become involved should livestock that has been stolen enter the human food chain; however no such referrals have been made during the defined periods. 

2. Fraud (adulteration / misrepresentation / substitution) 

- The reported incidents in 2024/25 and one during 2025/26 involved counterfeit vodka (containing potentially lethal isopropyl alcohol) allegedly being sold from independent licensed retailers in Scotland. These matters were subject to joint investigations by FSS and local authorities and also considered the alleged Common Law crime of culpable and reckless conduct. Food business operators for three of the premises involved have been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and remain pending. Investigations into a further two unrelated allegations of fraud involving the alleged misrepresentation of branded alcohol are ongoing. 

3. Fraud (documents) 

FSS work closely with partners who deal with animals destined for the food chain. In relation to documents: 

- Any fraudulent documentation relating to the reidentification of cattle normally falls under the Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007 and is a matter for local authorities. 

- The movement of animals to a slaughterhouse is recorded on an accompanying food chain information document. Any suspected alteration of this document would result in the rejection of the animal, with any alleged offence being investigated and reported by the local authority. 

- FSS has not recorded forged import documents during this period, nor had any crime referrals relating to organic certification. 

4. Waste Diversion 

- FSS has reported a case to COPFS in relation to alleged waste diversion to the human food/animal feed chains during 2024/25, which remains pending. A further case reported during 2025/26 is currently under investigation by FSS. Local authorities are normally the enforcement authority for regulations governing animal by-products.