Analytical authentication of organic products: an overview of markers

Untargeted foodomics for authenticating the organic farming of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the primary and secondary metabolites of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (HILIC-Orbitrap-HRMS). Certified samples from two cultivars, Green stem water spinach (G) and White stem water spinach (W) cultivated using organic and conventional farming methods, were collected from the Hong Kong market. Multivariate analysis was used to differentiate water spinach of different cultivars and farming methods. We identified 12 metabolites to distinguish between G and W, 26 metabolites to identify G from organic farming and 8 metabolites to identify W from organic farming. Then, two metabolites, isorhamnetin and jasmonic acid, have been proposed to serve as biomarkers for organic farming (in both G and W). Our foodomics findings provide useful tools for improving the crop performance of water spinach under abiotic/biotic stressesand authentication of organic produce.

1H NMR Metabolomics on Pigs' Liver Exposed to Antibiotics Administration: An Explorative Study

An untargeted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics approach was applied as a first attempt to explore the metabolome of pigs treated with antibiotics. The final goal was to investigate the possibility of discriminating between antibiotic-treated (TX group) and untreated pigs (CTRL group), with the further perspective of identifying the authentication tools for antibiotic-free pork supply chains. In particular, 41 samples of pig liver were subjected to a biphasic extraction to recover both the polar and the non-polar metabolites, and the 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis was performed on the two separate extracts. Unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis) multivariate statistical analysis of 1H NMR spectra data in the range 0-9 ppm provided metabolomic fingerprinting useful for the discrimination of pig livers based on the antibiotic treatment to which they were exposed. Moreover, within the signature patterns, significant discriminating metabolites were identified among carbohydrates, choline and derivatives, amino acids and some lipid-class molecules. The encouraging findings of this exploratory study showed the feasibility of the untargeted metabolomic approach as a novel strategy in the authentication framework of pork supply chains and open a new horizon for a more in-depth investigation.

Application of multiple stable isotopes to aid identification of the origin of regional and organic animal products in Hesse, Germany

There is an increasing global demand for regional and organic produce. However, the growth of these markets depends on consumers' trust. Thus, novel methods must be developed to aid the verification of the origin of produce. We built on our previous study to identify the geographical origin and production method of animal-derived food products. Thirty-samples of eggs, 99 of milk, 34 of beef, and 62 of pork were collected from different regions in central Germany and analysed for their stable isotopic composition. The analysis followed a single-variate authentification approach using five isotope signatures, δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S. The best-performing indicators for verification of the geographical origin were δ15N and δ34S for beef; δ18O, δ2H, and δ13C for milk, and δ2H and δ13C for pork. These tracers indicated statistically significant differences among regions with the exception of pork; the results recorded for eggs were inconclusive. It was possible to distinguish between production methods by means of δ15N and δ34S (beef); all five tracers (eggs), and δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S (milk). This study demonstrated how the analysis of stable isotopes can be employed to determine the geographic region of origin and production method of animal-derived products in Germany.

Comparative Analysis of LC-ESI-IM-qToF-MS and FT-NIR Spectroscopy Approaches for the Authentication of Organic and Conventional Eggs

The importance of animal welfare and the organic production of chicken eggs has increased in the European Union in recent years. Legal regulation for organic husbandry makes the production of organic chicken eggs more expensive compared to conventional husbandry and thus increases the risk of food fraud. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a non-targeted lipidomic LC-ESI-IM-qToF-MS method based on 270 egg samples, which achieved a classification accuracy of 96.3%. Subsequently, surrogate minimal depth (SMD) was applied to select important variables identified as carotenoids and lipids based on their MS/MS spectra. The LC-MS results were compared with FT-NIR spectroscopy analysis as a low-resolution screening method and achieved 80.0% accuracy. Here, SMD selected parts of the spectrum which are associated with lipids and proteins. Furthermore, we used SMD for low-level data fusion to analyze relations between the variables of the LC-MS and the FT-NIR spectroscopy datasets. Thereby, lipid-associated bands of the FT-NIR spectrum were related to the identified lipids from the LC-MS analysis, demonstrating that FT-NIR spectroscopy partially provides similar information about the lipidome. In future applications, eggs can therefore be analyzed with FT-NIR spectroscopy to identify conspicuous samples that can subsequently be counter-tested by mass spectrometry.

Spectralprint techniques coupled with chemometric tools for vinegar classifications

Vinegar is a versatile product used for food preservation, cooking, healthcare, and cleaning. In this study, 80 vinegar of different raw materials, aging time, and for the first time by the agronomic method of raw material cultivation were classified by spectralprint techniques with chemometrics. Datasets were obtained by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), Fourier transforms mid-infrared (FT-IR), near-infrared (NIR), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis); then evaluated by common dimension (ComDim) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). NMR with PLS-DA had the best prediction performance compared to other techniques, with accuracy values between 92.3 and 100 %, followed by FT-IR and UV-vis of 80.8 and 96.0 % and NIR between 69.2 and 84.0 %. The results indicated that the classification of vinegar according to the agronomic cultivation method is more complex than aging time or raw material. However, any of these spectralprint techniques have demonstrated that they can be used in the classification of vinegar.

Influence of the Washing Process and the Time of Fruit Harvesting throughout the Day on Quality and Chemosensory Profile of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oils

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for organic extra virgin olive oils (OEVOOs) as quality products with greater added value. The aim of the present work was to determine whether the washing process and time of harvesting (morning or afternoon) plays an important role in the quality of Picual OEVOOs by studying quality parameters (degree of acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, oxidative stability), and volatile and sensory profiles. Olive fruits were harvested at three maturity stages and within each phase at two times of the day (morning and afternoon). Then, samples were divided into two blocks (washed and unwashed). Volatile profile was obtained by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Regarding the physicochemical quality parameters, sensory and volatile profiles, there were no differences between the oils produced under the two treatments applied (washed/non-washed). However, the time of harvesting (morning or afternoon) did influence the volatile and sensory profile, with higher values in the oils obtained from fruits harvested in the morning, being statistically significant for the families of aldehydes, hydrocarbures and lactones. Besides, the olives harvested during the mornings gave rise to oils with higher values in the green and apple fruit attributes.

Assessment of rapid low-cost isotope (δ15 N, δ18 O) analyses of nitrate in fruit extracts by Ti(III) reduction to differentiate organic from conventional production

RATIONALE

The isotopic composition (δ¹⁵ N, δ¹⁸ O) of nitrate in fruits and vegetables differentiates organic from conventional food production practices. Organic systems do not use synthetic nitrate fertilizers high in ¹⁸ O and low in ¹⁵ N and thereby help reveal producers' fertilization claims. Isotope analyses of nitrate extracted from fruits and vegetables are done by bacterial reduction which is costly and by specialized laboratories. Rapid, low-cost methods are needed to promulgate nitrate isotope analyses of food products to support organic food product certification and to verify the authenticity of production claims.

METHODS

Fresh strawberry samples were obtained from certified organic and conventional growers in Andalucía, Spain. We applied a new, rapid, one-step Ti(III) reduction method to convert the nitrate from strawberry extracts to N₂ O gas for headspace isotope analyses using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Using the Ti(III) reduction method, 70 samples, controls and references were prepared and analyzed for NO₃ ^- , δ¹⁵ N and δ¹⁸ O per 48 h. We also analyzed extracts and solids for anions and cations and for bulk δ¹⁵ N for multivariate chemometric evaluation.

RESULTS

The Ti(III)-based isotope analyses of nitrate in strawberry extracts revealed clear differentiation between organic and conventional production with mean δ¹⁸ O and δ¹⁵ N values of +18.3 ± 1.2 ‰ and +17.6 ± 1.2 ‰ versus +28.2 ± 4.5 ‰ and +14.9 ± 3.0 ‰, respectively. The δ¹⁵ N of strawberry dry mass differed slightly (+3.0 ± 1.4 ‰ versus +4.0 ± 1.4 ‰) between organic and conventional samples, respectively. Chemometric analyses of nitrate isotopes and extract chemistry revealed that the δ¹⁸ O of nitrate along with δ¹⁵ N and Ca²⁺ fully differentiated organic from conventional strawberry production.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show the Ti(III) reduction method provides a new low-cost and rapid analytical method to facilitate compound-specific δ¹⁵ N and δ¹⁸ O isotope analyses of nitrate in selected fruit types, and likely other food products, for the purposes of assessing nitrate fertilization practices of organic versus conventional production claims and to support authenticity investigations.

Effect of Different Culture Conditions on Gene Expression Associated With Cyst Production in Populations of Artemia franciscana

Artemia franciscana inhabits hypersaline environments in the Americas and has a well-adapted reproductive system that allows it to survive in these extreme conditions, represented by the production of diapause cysts (oviparous reproduction). This reproduction mode is controlled by numerous genes that are expressed in response to different environmental stressors, enabling this species to avoid population extinction. However, to date, the expression of these genes has not been sufficiently studied to clarify their levels in response to a combination of different environmental factors under controlled conditions. We analyzed the expression of eight genes related to oviparous reproduction (SGEG, Arp-CBP, artemin, BRCA1, p8, ArHsp21, ArHsp22, and p26) to determine their association with cyst production in two populations of A. franciscana with contrasting phenotypes, one with high (Barro Negro, BNE, Chile) and one with low (San Francisco Bay, SFB, United States) cyst production. Populations were cultured under controlled conditions of salinity (SAL, 35 and 75 ppt), photoperiod (PHO, 12L:12D and 24L:00D), iron concentration (IC, 0[Fe] and 5[Fe]), and microalgae diet (DIE; Dunaliella tertiolecta (DUN) and Tetraselmis suecica (TETRA)). Sixteen treatments were performed by combining the two conditions of each of the four factors. Data on nine reproductive parameters per female were recorded, including the percent of offspring encysted (%) (POE). The gene expression levels were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The mean POE was significantly greater in BNE than in SFB (32.40 versus 12.74%, Mann-Whitney's test, p < 0.05). Significantly upregulated expression of seven genes in BNE (more than twofold, p < 0.05) was observed in 38.28% of the treatments (e.g., DUN-75ppt-12L:12D-5[Fe] and TETRA-35ppt-12L:12D-5[Fe]). In SFB, seven genes showed significant differential expression, but most were downregulated in 29.69% of the treatments (e.g., DUN-75ppt-12L:12D-0[Fe] and DUN-75ppt-24L:00D-0[Fe]). Multiple regression analyses indicated that in BNE, five genes (SGEG, artemin, Arp-CBP, p8, and BRCA1) and three environmental factors (DIE, SAL, and IC) were important predictor variables for the POE response variable given that all of them were included in the highest-ranking models. In SFB, only two genes (ArHsp21 and artemin) and one environmental factor (SAL) were important explanatory variables in the highest-ranking models. It was concluded that the BNE population presented a characteristic gene expression pattern that differed from that of the SFB population. This pattern might be related to the marked oviparous reproduction of the BNE population. This gene expression pattern could be useful for monitoring the reproductive mode leading to diapause in Artemia and to assist with intensive cyst production in pond systems.

Metabolomic profiling to detect different forms of beef fraud using rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (REIMS)

Organic food fraud is a significant challenge in the food testing sector-high price premiums, ease of access to produce to be relabelled and difficulties in developing testing strategies that can detect such frauds make organic foods particularly attractive and thus highly vulnerable to fraud. Samples of conventional and organic cattle taken across meat plants in Ireland and the United Kingdom, consisting of the neck (supraspinatus), rump (gluteus), and shin (flexor carpi radialis) regions of the carcass were analysed using a high resolution time-of-flight based rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (REIMS) system. The resulting untargeted lipidomic data (m/z 600-1000) was used to generate PCA-LDA models for production system and for muscle type, for these models, it was found that the production system model could differentiate organic from conventional beef with an accuracy of 84%, whilst the muscle type model could identify the cut of meat with a 98% accuracy; additionally, samples can be assessed against multiple models simultaneously, reducing analysis time and sample numbers. The use of REIMS showed considerable promise in its ability to detect different forms of meat fraud; its accuracy in differentiating organic from conventional beef is superior to stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry, with the added advantages of substantially shorter analysis times and lower sample analysis costs. The ability to rapidly confirm the cut of meat also demonstrates the potential of REIMS to concurrently determine multiple aspects of beef authenticity in a close to real time analysis.

Recent techniques for the authentication of the geographical origin of tea leaves from camellia sinensis: A review

Tea is one of the most important beverages worldwide, is produced in several distinct geographical regions, and is traded on the global market. The ability to determine the geographical origin of tea products helps to ensure authenticity and traceability. This paper reviews the recent research on authentication of tea using a combination of instrumental and chemometric methods. To determine the production region of a tea sample, instrumental methods based on analyzing isotope and mineral element contents are suitable because they are less affected by tea variety and processing methods. Chemometric analysis has proven to be a valuable method to identify tea. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) are the most preferred methods for processing large amounts of data obtained through instrumental component analysis.

Research progress on mutton origin tracing and authenticity

With the globalization of the food market and the convenience of food transportation between countries, consumers are increasingly worried about the source and safety of the food they eat. Traceability has been identified as an important tool for ensuring food safety and quality. This review mainly introduces the principles of five food traceability technologies, summarizes the progress in mutton application, comprehensively compares and analyzes the five traceability technologies, and discusses their application prospects, advantages and disadvantages. It is aimed at promoting research and application of traceability technology in mutton safety, promoting establishment and improvement of food traceability system.

Food Metabolites as Tools for Authentication, Processing, and Nutritive Value Assessment

Secondary metabolites are molecules with unlimited applications that have been gaining importance in various industries and studied from many angles. They are mainly used for their bioactive capabilities, but due to the improvement of sensibility in analytical chemistry, they are also used for authentication and as a quality control parameter for foods, further allowing to help avoid food adulteration and food fraud, as well as helping understand the nutritional value of foods. This manuscript covers the examples of secondary metabolites that have been used as qualitative and authentication molecules in foods, from production, through processing and along their shelf-life. Furthermore, perspectives of analytical chemistry and their contribution to metabolite detection and general perspectives of metabolomics are also discussed.

Considering Fraud Vulnerability Associated with Credence-Based Products Such as Organic Food

Organic foods carry a premium price. They are credence-based foods, i.e., it is difficult for consumers to evaluate the premium aspects of organic food under normal use. In global supply chains, organic food is purchased on institutional trust (certification, logos, standards) rather than on relational trust. Relying on institutional trust makes consumers vulnerable to criminals who intentionally label conventional product as organic or develop sophisticated organized crime networks to defraud businesses and consumers. The aim of this research is to explore cases of organic fraud that are emergent from academic and gray literature searches to identify ways to strengthen future capabilities to counter illicit activities in a globalized food environment. Each case is considered in terms of perpetrator motivations (differentiated as economic, cultural, and behaviorally orientated drivers), the mode of operation (simple or organized), the guardians involved/absent, and the business and supply chain level vulnerabilities the cases highlight. The study finds that institutional trust is particularly vulnerable to fraud. Supply chain guardians need to recognize this vulnerability and implement effective controls to reduce the likelihood of occurrence. However, in some cases considered in the study, the guardians themselves were complicit in the illicit behavior, further increasing consumer vulnerability. Future research needs to consider how additional controls can be implemented, without increasing supply chain friction that will impact on food trade and supply, that can ensure consumers are purchasing what they believe they are paying for.

Regional differences in the fatty acid composition, and vitamin and carotenoid concentrations in farm bulk milk in Hokkaido, Japan

In this study, we investigated the regional differences in the composition of farm bulk milk produced at three different dairy areas in Hokkaido, Japan. A field survey was conducted at Central, Tokachi, and North areas of Hokkaido, three or four times a year. At each farm, an interview questionnaire for farm basal data was conducted, and 500 ml of bulk tank milk sample was obtained. Fatty acid composition, and vitamin and carotenoid concentrations in the milk samples were determined. In Central and Tokachi areas, corn silage was used as the main forage. In North area, fresh herbage was the dominant feed in the summer season, and grass hay was the main feed in the winter season. Discriminant analysis revealed that the composition of milk samples differed among the areas and seasons. Milk from Central and Tokachi areas contained a higher ratio of linoleic acid compared with that from North area, but there were only slight differences in the composition of milk between Central and Tokachi areas. The concentrations of carotenoids and α-tocopherol were higher in samples from North area and the ratios of trans-vaccenic acid and conjugated linoleic acid were higher in the summer season than in the indoor season.

Identification of biomarkers in hydrosoluble extracts from spelt and wheat cultivated in different production systems

BACKGROUND

In the present paper, a method for differentiation between common and spelt wheat grown in different farming systems (biodynamic, ecological, integrated, conventional), based on biomarkers identified from aqueous flour extracts (nitrogen and 14 soluble carbohydrates) was employed.

RESULTS

The identification and determination of soluble carbohydrate content were carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, with the UV spectrum generated by mass spectrometry for comparison with the WILEY database. Soluble carbohydrates were determined in the peak area between 21.92 and 43.63 min^-1 retention time. The obtained data set was analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques. It was revealed that common wheat exerted a much more pronounced tendency than spelt wheat to be influenced by the farming system.

CONCLUSION

This differentiation was particularly well visualized after subjecting the data set to principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). In the PCA graph, all spelt samples were positioned closer to the corresponding control sample, in contrast to the wheat samples, which were distributed over a huge area in the factor space. CA showed that the spelt samples grown under different farming systems were highly similar and grouped into one cluster. Common wheat samples cultivated under organic, biodynamic and integrated system were similar and represented the second cluster, whereas that cultivated under the conventional system was clearly separated from other samples. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessment of multiple stable isotopes for tracking regional and organic authenticity of plant products in Hesse, Germany

As demand for regional and organically produced foodstuff has increased in Europe, the need has arisen to verify the products' origin and production method. For food authenticity tracking (production method and origin), we examined 286 samples of wheat (Triticum aestivum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and apples (Malus domestica) from different regions in Germany for their stable isotope compositions of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Single-variate authentication methods were used. Suitable isotope tracers to determine wheat's regional origin were δ¹⁸O and δ³⁴S. δ¹³C helped to distinguish between organic and conventional wheat samples. For the separation of the production regions of potatoes, several isotope tracers were suitable (e.g. δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C and δ³⁴S isotopes in potato protein), but only protein δ¹⁵N was suitable to differentiate between organic and conventional potato samples. For the apple samples, ²H and ¹⁸O isotopes helped to identify production regions, but no significant statistical differences could be found between organically and conventionally farmed apples. For food authenticity tracking, our study showed the need to take the various isotopes into account. There is an urgent need for a broad reference database if isotope measurements are to become a main tool for determining product's origin.

Kinesthetic engagement in Gestalt evaluation outscores analytical 'atomic feature' evaluation in perceiving aging in crystallization images of agricultural products

There is an increasing interest in a systemic approach to food quality. From this perspective, the copper chloride crystallization method is an interesting asset as it enables an estimation of a sample's 'resilience' in response to controlled degradation. In previous studies, we showed that an ISO-standardized visual evaluation panel could correctly rank crystallization images of diverse agricultural products according to their degree of induced degradation. In this paper we examined the role of contextual sensitivity herein, with the aim to further improve the visual evaluation. To this end, we compared subjects' performance in ranking tests, while primed according to two perceptional strategies (levels: analytical vs. kinesthetic engagement), according to a within-subject design. The ranking test consisted out of wheat and rocket lettuce crystallization images, exhibiting four levels of induced degradation. The perceptual strategy imbuing kinesthetic engagement improved the performance of the ranking test in both samples tested. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the training and application of such a perceptual strategy in visual evaluation.

Profiling and fingerprinting strategies to assess exposure of edible plants to herbicides

Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus, was exposed under experimental conditions to herbicides: rimsulfuron (RIM), administrated as (1) pure substance, (2) in commercially available formulation (RIMEL), (3) its degradation product: 4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-amine (2ADP), (4) mesotrione (MES), (5) sulcotrione (SUL). Profiling and fingerprinting strategies, conducted by LC-MS/MS-FL, were employed to find markers of plant exposure to herbicide stress. The presence ofRIM metabolite in the tissues of plant exposed to this herbicide proved that it is necessary to determine both parent compound and its by-products to obtain reliable information on plant exposure to agrochemicals. A higher content of normetanephrine (NMN) (18-175%) and lower content of tyramine (TYR) (49-75%) and epinephrine (E) (75-83%) was observed in plant tissues exposed to RIM and 2ADP in comparison to blank sample. Therefore, NMN, TRY and E may be considered as markers of plant response to RIM. Non-target analysis enables to recognize the type of herbicide used during cultivation.

Selected Antioxidants in Organic vs. Conventionally Grown Apple Fruits

The apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most widely cultivated temperate fruits globally, gaining scientific interest as a rich source of antioxidants with a demonstrated beneficial human health impact. Since a growing number of consumers are increasingly seeking safe and healthy food options, alternative fruit production systems such as organic farming, and their potential to provide safe and nutritious foods, have been gaining increasing attention in the last decades. The aim of the presented study was, therefore, to analyse and to compare the concentrations of selected health-promoting antioxidants, such as phenolic acids, flavonols, and vitamin C, in fruits of three apple cultivars (Champion, Gala, and Idared) grown in conventional and certified organic orchards in Poland. All analyses were performed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Organic apples tested within the study, compared to the conventionally grown ones, were characterised by significantly higher concentrations of phenolic acids (av. >31%) and flavonols (av. >66%) with the identified differences being consistent in all three cultivars and two seasons. The greatest production system effect was observed in the case of Idared. Significant cultivar and production season effects on the concentration of the measured fruit phenolics, with strong interactions between the two factors, were also identified. Vitamin C content in the fruits was strongly dependent on the year-to-year differences in the fruit growing conditions. The study suggests that the organic production system has a potential to provide apple fruits rich in selected health-promoting phenolic antioxidants.

Authentication of organic pork and identification of geographical origins of pork in four regions of China by combined analysis of stable isotopes and multi-elements

The purpose of this study was to verify that the organic status of pork purchased in the markets from four different regions of China can be authenticated by the combined analysis of stable isotopes and multiple elements. Four stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ²H and δ¹⁸O) and the concentrations of seven elements (K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu and Se) were determined in organic and conventional pork samples from four locations of China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze stable isotope ratios and multi-element concentrations in pork. Based on the limited database of analytical values, the methodology would be potentially able to confirm whether a sample of pork came from the region and organic status it claimed. These results provide a possibility for authenticity of organic agricultural products from a large scope such as a province even a country.

Parameters for discrimination between organic and conventional production: A case study for chicory plants (Cichorium intybus L.)

Organic crop production has become a highly attractive way of production over the world and thus the need for robust analytical techniques for their authentication. The main aim of this study is to identify appropriate biomarkers to discriminate between organic and conventionally grown chicory. Chicory is an appreciated leafy vegetable among producers and consumers, especially due to its undemanding cultivation and content of bioactive substances. Six different fertility management practices (control, two organic, two mineral, and a combination of organic and mineral fertilizers) were used to produce five chicory cultivars in a glasshouse pot experiment. Analysis of bioactive compounds, nitrogen assimilation, multi-elemental profiling and stable isotope ratio determination of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) were performed to differentiate between organic and conventional production. In this study, nitrogen isotopes are found to be an excellent way of identifying organically produced chicory of a different variety with the highest δ15N values. Conversely, the same samples had the lowest δ34S values indicating that also stable isotopes of S could be used as a marker for the authentication of organic production.

The Impact of Organic vs. Conventional Agricultural Practices on Selected Quality Features of Eight Potato Cultivars

An organic agricultural system based on natural methods and means of production is an alternative to intensive agriculture. The available research suggests that organic crops, in comparison to the conventional ones, are richer in phenolics and other antioxidants while containing less undesirable pesticide residues and nitrates. The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of polyphenols, lutein, vitamin C, and nitrates in eight potato cultivars (Mazur, Justa, Lawenda, Lech, Tacja, Laskana, Otolia, Magnolia) grown organically and conventionally in a controlled field experiment in Poland. Significant differences between potato tubers of the tested cultivars coming from organic and conventional production were identified for the majority of parameters. Higher concentrations of nitrates and lutein were found in conventional compared to the organic tubers, while organic potatoes were, on average, richer in phenolic compounds. Among the tested cultivars, Magnolia, Otolia, and Laskara were richest in vitamin C and phenolics. Otolia and Laskara also accumulated the highest levels of nitrates. If further confirmed, these observations might be of importance for the producers and consumers, who increasingly search for foods from sustainable and well-controlled agricultural systems.

Tackling Fraudsters with Global Strategies to Expose Fraud in the Food Chain

Deliberate adulteration of food products is as old as food processing and production systems. Food adulteration is occurring increasingly often today. With globalization and complex distribution systems, adulteration may have a far-reaching impact and even adverse consequences on well-being. The means of the international community to confront and solve food fraud today are scattered and largely ineffective. A collective approach is needed to identify all stakeholders in the food supply chain, certify and qualify them, exclude those failing to meet applicable standards, and track food in a real time. This review provides some background into the drivers of fraudulent practices (economically motivated adulteration, food-industry perspectives, and consumers' perceptions of fraud) and discusses a wide range of the currently available technologies for detecting food adulteration followed by multivariate pattern recognition tools. Food chain integrity policies are discussed. Future directions in research, concerned not only with food adulterers but also with food safety and climate change, may be useful for researchers in developing interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary problems.

Influence of dewetting on the crystallization behavior of CuCl₂ in the presence of BSA during evaporation in a Petri dish

The overall structure of dihydrate cupric chloride (CuCl₂ * 2H₂O) crystallization patterns in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a Petri dish is influenced by dewetting. The dewetting behavior, which can be either before or after initial CuCl₂ nucleation, depends on the amount of CuCl₂ and BSA in the Petri dish. We postulate that the concentration and/or temperature gradient area in the dish, which is built up during the evaporation process, coincides with the location where dewetting predominantly starts. This hypothesis could be supported by measurements of the CuCl₂ coverage of the Petri dish. During the evaporation the height of the meniscus at the rim of the Petri dish recedes in favor of the central Petri dish area. This could not be explained by the above mentioned hypothesis.

A tool to assure the geographical origin of local food products (glasshouse tomatoes) using labeling with rare earth elements

BACKGROUND

Trace element fingerprinting has been widely used for identification of provenance of regional food. In the case of products from conventional agriculture, it is expected that the elemental composition will comply with that of the commercially available substrate of the plants. Therefore, for products without a direct relationship with the regional soil the region-specific differences in elemental composition are no longer recognizable. The idea of this work is the labeling of tomatoes with rare earth elements (REE) in the ultra-trace range for food authentication.

RESULTS

Labeling of tomatoes was carried out either by watering the soil with Nd- and Er-spiked water or by adding these elements as solid oxides to the soil. In both cases enrichment of Nd and Er relative to the control group was detected in tomato fruits and leaves using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Tomato plants rapidly absorb the dissolved REE from the irrigation water, and watering for a short period just before ripeness is sufficient to induce REE labels.

CONCLUSION

Labeling with trace amounts of REE could potentially be used to assure the provenance of tomatoes of local origin and separate these from products of foreign origin. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Real-Time Food Authentication Using a Miniature Mass Spectrometer

Food adulteration is a threat to public health and the economy. In order to determine food adulteration efficiently, rapid and easy-to-use on-site analytical methods are needed. In this study, a miniaturized mass spectrometer in combination with three ambient ionization methods was used for food authentication. The chemical fingerprints of three milk types, five fish species, and two coffee types were measured using electrospray ionization, desorption electrospray ionization, and low temperature plasma ionization. Minimum sample preparation was needed for the analysis of liquid and solid food samples. Mass spectrometric data was processed using the laboratory-built software MS food classifier, which allows for the definition of specific food profiles from reference data sets using multivariate statistical methods and the subsequent classification of unknown data. Applicability of the obtained mass spectrometric fingerprints for food authentication was evaluated using different data processing methods, leave-10%-out cross-validation, and real-time classification of new data. Classification accuracy of 100% was achieved for the differentiation of milk types and fish species, and a classification accuracy of 96.4% was achieved for coffee types in cross-validation experiments. Measurement of two milk mixtures yielded correct classification of >94%. For real-time classification, the accuracies were comparable. Functionality of the software program and its performance is described. Processing time for a reference data set and a newly acquired spectrum was found to be 12 s and 2 s, respectively. These proof-of-principle experiments show that the combination of a miniaturized mass spectrometer, ambient ionization, and statistical analysis is suitable for on-site real-time food authentication.

Modern analytical methods for the detection of food fraud and adulteration by food category

This review provides current information on the analytical methods used to identify food adulteration in the six most adulterated food categories: animal origin and seafood, oils and fats, beverages, spices and sweet foods (e.g. honey), grain-based food, and others (organic food and dietary supplements). The analytical techniques (both conventional and emerging) used to identify adulteration in these six food categories involve sensory, physicochemical, DNA-based, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, and have been combined with chemometrics, making these techniques more convenient and effective for the analysis of a broad variety of food products. Despite recent advances, the need remains for suitably sensitive and widely applicable methodologies that encompass all the various aspects of food adulteration. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry in combination with chemometrics for characterization of geographical origin and agronomic practices of table grape

BACKGROUND

Although table grape is one of the most cultivated and consumed fruits worldwide, no study has been reported on its geographical origin or agronomic practice based on stable isotope ratios. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of isotopic ratios (i.e. ² H/¹ H, ¹³ C/¹² C, ¹⁵ N/¹⁴ N and ¹⁸ O/¹⁶ O) as possible markers to discriminate the agronomic practice (conventional versus organic farming) and provenance of table grape.

RESULTS

In order to quantitatively evaluate which of the isotopic variables were more discriminating, a t test was carried out, in light of which only δ¹³ C and δ¹⁸ O provided statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) for the discrimination of geographical origin and farming method. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed no good separation of samples differing in geographical area and agronomic practice; thus, for classification purposes, supervised approaches were carried out. In particular, general discriminant analysis (GDA) was used, resulting in prediction abilities of 75.0 and 92.2% for the discrimination of farming method and origin respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest that stable isotopes (i.e. δ¹⁸ O, δ² H and δ¹³ C) combined with chemometrics can be successfully applied to discriminate the provenance of table grape. However, the use of bulk nitrogen isotopes was not effective for farming method discrimination. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Metabolomics for organic food authentication: Results from a long-term field study in carrots

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The agricultural origin of carrots could be predicted.

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Using yearly harvested samples allowed 100% correct classification of unknowns.

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Metabolomic fingerprinting showed potential for organic food authentication.

Increasing demand for organic products and their premium prices make them an attractive target for fraudulent malpractices. In this study, a large-scale comparative metabolomics approach was applied to investigate the effect of the agronomic production system on the metabolite composition of carrots and to build statistical models for prediction purposes. Orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied successfully to predict the origin of the agricultural system of the harvested carrots on the basis of features determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. When the training set used to build the OPLS-DA models contained samples representative of each harvest year, the models were able to classify unknown samples correctly (100% correct classification). If a harvest year was left out of the training sets and used for predictions, the correct classification rates achieved ranged from 76% to 100%. The results therefore highlight the potential of metabolomic fingerprinting for organic food authentication purposes.

Implementation of quality by design toward processing of food products

Quality by design (QbD) is a systematic approach that begins with predefined objectives and emphasizes product and process understanding and process control. It is an approach based on principles of sound science and quality risk management. As the food processing industry continues to embrace the idea of in-line, online, and/or at-line sensors and real-time characterization for process monitoring and control, the existing gaps with regard to our ability to monitor multiple parameters/variables associated with the manufacturing process will be alleviated over time. Investments made for development of tools and approaches that facilitate high-throughput analytical and process development, process analytical technology, design of experiments, risk analysis, knowledge management, and enhancement of process/product understanding would pave way for operational and economic benefits later in the commercialization process and across other product pipelines. This article aims to achieve two major objectives. First, to review the progress that has been made in the recent years on the topic of QbD implementation in processing of food products and second, present a case study that illustrates benefits of such QbD implementation.

Authentic sheep meat in the European Union: Factors influencing and validating its unique meat quality

Authentic meat products are gaining attention through their unique quality characteristics linked to their origin. Various factors are known to influence the quality of fresh meat. This review describes the different Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) lamb types and discusses the factors which influences its unique sensory and chemical characteristics. Flavour, aroma, texture and colour play an integral part in the sensory quality of denomination of origin fresh meat products. For authentic fresh sheep meat the sensory (as well as chemical) quality is largely influenced by diet followed by breed, age and gender. However, diet forms the link with the geographical area of origin, which together with the traditional production system and sheep breeds used, lends the product its authentic nature. This review shows how diet linked to origin can affect the quality of the meat and furthermore how other factors such as breed can also have an effect. Research relating to the authentic lamb types were evaluated and the shortcomings highlighted in order to assist with the development of PDO and PGI specifications in the future. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Metabolomics, Nutrition, and Potential Biomarkers of Food Quality, Intake, and Health Status

Diet, dietary patterns, and other environmental factors such as exposure to toxins are playing an important role in the prevention/development of many diseases, like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and consequently on the health status of individuals. A major challenge nowadays is to identify novel biomarkers to detect as early as possible metabolic dysfunction and to predict evolution of health status in order to refine nutritional advices to specific population groups. Omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics coupled with statistical and bioinformatics tools have already shown great potential in this research field even if so far only few biomarkers have been validated. For the past two decades, important analytical techniques have been developed to detect as many metabolites as possible in human biofluids such as urine, blood, and saliva. In the field of food science and nutrition, many studies have been carried out for food authenticity, quality, and safety, as well as for food processing. Furthermore, metabolomic investigations have been carried out to discover new early biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction and predictive biomarkers of developing pathologies (obesity, metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, etc.). Great emphasis is also placed in the development of methodologies to identify and validate biomarkers of nutrients exposure.

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes as a potential tool to differentiate pork from organic and conventional systems

BACKGROUND

Isotopic discrimination, dietary composition and feeding regime determine the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of animals. Accordingly, measurement of the stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen can be a potential method to identify patterns of pork production.

RESULTS

In the current study, we investigated the carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratio in pork from organic and conventional systems. The average carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for various organic tissues, including hair, blood and defatted meat, were higher than those of conventionally raised ones. The discriminant analysis results based on the combination of carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in defatted meat reached a 100% correct classification. Furthermore, the variation in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of retail organic and conventional pork has been studied over 1 year. The results suggested that organic pork had a higher δ(13) C value than that of the conventional pork in all but three fortnights. Grouping of the δ(15) N data showed that the δ(15) N value in organic pork was higher than that of the conventional one throughout the whole year.

CONCLUSION

The method established in the present study provides a potential detection that can be highly valuable to prevent fraudulent labelling of organic pork. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Carbon monoxide stunning of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) modifies rigor mortis and sensory traits as revealed by NIRS and other instruments

BACKGROUND

Methods of stunning used in salmon slaughter are still the subject of research. Fish quality can be influenced by pre-, ante- and post-mortem conditions, including handling before slaughter, slaughter methods and storage conditions. Carbon monoxide (CO) is known to improve colour stability in red muscle and to reduce microbial growth and lipid oxidation in live fish exposed to CO. Quality differences in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., stunned by CO or percussion, were evaluated and compared by different techniques [near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), electronic nose (EN), electronic tongue (ET)] and sensory analysis.

RESULTS

Thawed samples, freeze-dried preparates and NIRS devices proved to be the most efficient combinations for discriminating the treatments applied to salmon, i.e. first the stunning methods adopted, then the back-prediction of the maximum time to reach rigor mortis and finally to correlate some sensory attributes. A trained panel found significant differences between control and CO-stunned salmon: reduced tactile crumbliness, reduced odour and aroma intensities, and reduced tenderness of CO-treated fillets. CO stunning reduced radiation absorbance in spectra of thawed and freeze-dried fillets, but not fillet samples stored in ethanol, where it may have interacted with myoglobin and myosin.

CONCLUSIONS

The good results in a rapid discrimination of thawed samples detected by NIRS suggest suitable applications in the fish industry. CO treatment could mitigate sensory perception, but consumer tests are needed to confirm our findings. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.