Food Quality Standards and Importance of Authentication of Coconut Products

Growing worldwide in an area of more than 10 MT in about 93 countries around the world, the production and consumption of coconut products are growing steadily. Globally, a large share of coconut production comes from different regions of India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Traditional products like coconut oil, coconut milk, and copra have been major contributors to the coconut sector for years, however, the advent of novel products such as coconut milk powder, coconut water, virgin coconut oil, flour, coconut vinegar, etc. have spurred the growth of the sector in the international market. Furthermore, the acceptance of a wide range of products has necessitated the robust mechanism of standards to safeguard safety and the quality of products has increased. In addition to quality, implementation of code of practice is proposed for relegating barriers in trade and for the maintenance of customer interests. The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) have been actively involved in the development of quality standards that are highly assisted by input from certain national and regional agencies. Along with the standards, authentication of these products in market is imperative to ensure that they are free from adulteration ensuring appropriate composition, purity, origin, and manufacturing method. This chapter summarizes existing food safety standards and the need and importance of authenticating different coconut products that exist on the market.