As part of our research into another secret project, we’ve been having some fascinating (and sobering) meetings this month where we’ve delved into the murky world of high-end food crime. 

We’ve talked to salmon smokers and cheese producers who’ve lost thousands of pounds’ worth of merchandise to sophisticated scammers — and who have very kindly let us taste for ourselves the kind of gourmet goodies these criminal networks have got their sights set on.

We also managed to speak to some of the people working undercover on the front line, helping to track down those responsible for the spiralling number of thefts and frauds, as well as tracing where the stolen stuff ends up across a rapidly expanding British and international market.

It’ll be some time yet before we’re ready to share our project which ties all this together in a final theatrical form — but in the meantime, with the Christmas season almost upon us, promise you’ll make sure you’re buying from reputable suppliers only…. As we’ve been discovering, some deals really are too good to be true…