Determination of the geographical origin of marine mussels (Mytilus spp.) using 143Nd/144Nd ratios

Isotope Fingerprinting as a Backup for Modern Safety and Traceability Systems in the Animal-Derived Food Chain

In recent years, due to the globalization of food trade and certified agro-food products, the authenticity and traceability of food have received increasing attention. As a result, opportunities for fraudulent practices arise, highlighting the need to protect consumers from economic and health damages. In this regard, specific analytical techniques have been optimized and implemented to support the integrity of the food chain, such as those targeting different isotopes and their ratios. This review article explores the scientific progress of the last decade in the study of the isotopic identity card of food of animal origin, provides the reader with an overview of its application, and focuses on whether the combination of isotopes with other markers increases confidence and robustness in food authenticity testing. To this purpose, a total of 135 studies analyzing fish and seafood, meat, eggs, milk, and dairy products, and aiming to examine the relation between isotopic ratios and the geographical provenance, feeding regime, production method, and seasonality were reviewed. Current trends and major research achievements in the field were discussed and commented on in detail, pointing out advantages and drawbacks typically associated with this analytical approach and arguing future improvements and changes that need to be made to recognize it as a standard and validated method for fraud mitigation and safety control in the sector of food of animal origin.

Trace elemental alterations of bivalve shells following transgenerational exposure to ocean acidification: Implications for geographical traceability and environmental reconstruction

Trace elements of bivalve shells can potentially record the physical and chemical properties of the ambient seawater during shell formation, thereby providing valuable information on environmental conditions and provenance of the bivalves. In an acidifying ocean, whether and how seawater acidification affects the trace elemental composition of bivalve shells is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the transgenerational effects of OA projected for the end of the 21st century on the incorporation of trace elements into shells of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum. Neither seawater pH nor transgenerational exposure affected the Mg and Sr composition of the shells. Compared with clams grown under ambient conditions, specimens exposed to elevated CO₂ levels incorporated significantly higher amounts of Cu, Zn, Ba and Pb into their shells, in line with the fact that at lower pH, these elements in seawater occur at higher fractions in free forms which are biologically available. Transgenerational effects manifested themselves significantly during the incorporation of Cu and Zn into the shells, most likely because Cu and Zn are biologically essential trace elements for metabolic processes. In addition, the plasticity of metabolism toward energetic efficiency following transgenerational exposure confers the clams enhanced ability to discriminate against Cu and Zn during the uptake from the ambient environment to the site of calcification. In the context of near-future OA scenarios, these findings may provide unique insights into the two primary applications of trace elements of bivalve shells as geographical tracers and proxies of environmental conditions.