Integrating social vulnerability into food fraud vulnerability assessment: policy implications for authenticity in Spanish honey

Cooperation on food fraud in the EU has become more structured since the establishment of the EU Food Fraud Network in 2013, with honey at the centre of recent regulatory changes regarding labelling and control measures. Despite progress, social vulnerability considerations have been largely overlooked in existing policy and academic discussions. Through narrative analysis of interviews with experts and actors from the Spanish honey value chain and European institutions, we explore nested layers of food fraud vulnerability: product and supply chain-related food fraud vulnerabilities, social vulnerabilities, institutional vulnerabilities, and vulnerabilities related to international trade and market dynamics. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how these dynamics affect vulnerable actors and limit their ability to respond to fraud. In a sector dominated by small and medium-sized beekeepers, food fraud poses a major threat to the viability of beekeeping. Key vulnerabilities include regulatory gaps, inconsistent detection methods, and global trade pressures that disproportionately affect vulnerable value chain actors. In particular, we highlight social vulnerability factors like low participation in decision-making, and unequal distribution of fraud-related risks and responsibilities throughout the value chain, which undermine trust between actors. Beekeepers and their associations advocate for geographical indication (GI) schemes, direct trade, and short supply chains to reduce fraud risks, address power imbalances, and improve traceability and authenticity. This research highlights the need for regulatory frameworks that promote equity, transparency, and fair risk sharing. It contributes to embedding social vulnerability into food fraud vulnerability concepts and advocates for socially responsible governance that prioritizes the rights and resilience of all actors within the agri-food system.