Advances in Troubleshooting Fish and Seafood Authentication by Inorganic Elemental Composition

Effects of H2O2 pretreatment on the elemental fingerprints of bivalve shells and their implications for the traceability of geographic origin

The fraudulent mislabelling of seafood geographic origin has been growing due to complex supply chains and growing consumer demand. To address this issue, seafood traceability tools, such as those based on elemental fingerprints (EF) of bivalve shells, have been successfully used to confirm their harvesting location. However, despite the usefulness of these methodologies, there is still room for optimization. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of a routine procedure during bivalve shells preparation for ICP-MS analysis - their pretreatment with H2O2 to remove organic components. More specifically, the present study evaluated the effects of H2O2 on i) the elemental fingerprints of shells of two bivalve species (Ruditapes philippinarum and Cerastoderma edule) from four different locations over the north-western and the western Iberian coast, and ii) their influence on the accuracy of models (based on the EF of shells) used to confirm the geographic origin of these species. Significant differences were observed between untreated and pretreated shells of R. philippinarum (p within location ranging from 0.0001 to 0.0011) and C. edule (p ranging from 0.0001 to 0.0007 for C. edule) for both their elemental fingerprints as a whole and several individual elements. The accuracy of the models employed to determine the origin of the two bivalve species, using i) untreated shells, ii) pretreated shells, and iii) both pretreated and untreated shells grouped per location, was high, with the models accurately predicting the geographic origin of 100, 90 and 95% of R. philippinarum and 95, 100 and 95% of C. edule, respectively. These results show that the shifts in the EF of bivalve shells promoted by treating them with H2O2 prior to ICP-MS analysis did not affect the accuracy of the models used to confirm the geographic origin of both bivalve species. Therefore, the need to pre-treat bivalve shells with H2O2 can be dismissed in future studies addressing the traceability of bivalves when using ICP-MS, thus contributing to reducing environmental impacts and economic costs associated with this procedure, as well as the time required to obtain results.

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.

Techniques for Food Authentication: Trends and Emerging Approaches

Food producers and retailers are obliged to provide correct food information to consumers; however, despite national and international legislation, food labels frequently contain false or misleading statements regarding food composition, quality, geographic origin, and/or processing [...]

The role of species and geography in the elemental profiles of farm-raised shrimp from Indonesia

Elemental profiling is being explored as a traceability tool in many seafood products. However, the extent that elemental profiling can be used at finer geographical scales in cultured shrimp is unknown. Additionally, few studies have included multiple species in the same discriminant models, which would be useful in applications where one species is common, and the other is not. Here, elemental profiling was used to discern the provenance of black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon and whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei from the regions of North Kalimantan, Sulawesi Seletan, and Aceh in Indonesia. ICP-MS was used to determine elemental concentrations of 41 elements in shrimp muscle tissue and was the basis for multivariate and univariate statistical analyses. A MANOVA showed that multivariate differences exist in regions and between species of shrimp sampled. Univariate comparisons were utilized after the significance of the MANOVA and showed that 19 of the 24 elements above detection limits had significant differences. Classification via random forest was used to access the ability to discern, region, species, and region × species group combinations. The lowest model accuracy was the region × species combinations at 78.9%, while the highest accuracy was species irrespective of geographical origin at 93.59%. Elements that were routinely important in classification included As, B, Ba, Li, Na, Rb, Se, and Zn. Elemental profiles of white leg shrimp and black tiger shrimp are varied and potentially should not be used in the same classification models. Altogether, these results suggest that elemental profiling of farmed shrimp at finer geographic scales needs refinement as a traceability tool.

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), a Useful Tool in Authenticity of Agricultural Products' and Foods' Origin

Fraudulent practices are the first and foremost concern of food industry, with significant consequences in economy and human's health. The increasing demand for food has led to food fraud by replacing, mixing, blending, and mislabeling products attempting to increase the profits of producers and companies. Consequently, there was the rise of a multidisciplinary field which encompasses a large number of analytical techniques aiming to trace and authenticate the origins of agricultural products, food and beverages. Among the analytical strategies have been developed for the authentication of geographical origin of foodstuff, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) increasingly dominates the field as a robust, accurate, and highly sensitive technique for determining the inorganic elements in food substances. Inorganic elements are well known for evaluating the nutritional composition of food products while it has been shown that they are considered as possible tracers for authenticating the geographical origin. This is based on the fact that the inorganic component of identical food type originating from different territories varies due to the diversity of matrix composition. The present systematic literature review focusing on gathering the research has been done up-to-date on authenticating the geographical origin of agricultural products and foods by utilizing the ICP-MS technique. The first part of the article is a tutorial about food safety/control and the fundaments of ICP-MS technique, while in the second part the total research review is discussed.

Elemental Fingerprinting of Wild and Farmed Fish Muscle to Authenticate and Validate Production Method

In the context of expanding fish production and complex distribution chains, traceability, provenance and food safety tools are becoming increasingly important. Here, we compare the elemental fingerprints of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) muscle from wild and different aquaculture productions (semi-intensive earth ponds and intensive sea cages from two locations) to confirm their origin and evaluate the concentrations of elements with regulatory thresholds (Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn). Using a chemometric approach based on multi-elemental signatures, the sample origin was determined with an overall accuracy of 90%. Furthermore, in a model built to replicate a real-case scenario where it would be necessary to trace the production method of S. aurata without reliable information about its harvesting location, 27 of the 30 samples were correctly allocated to their original production method (sea-cage aquaculture), despite being from another location. The concentrations of the regulated elements ranged as follows: Cu (0.140–1.139 mg/Kg), Hg (0–0.506 mg/Kg), Pb (0–2.703 mg/Kg) and Zn (6.502–18.807 mg/Kg), with only Pb presenting concentrations consistently above the recommended limit for human consumption. The present findings contribute to establishing elemental fingerprinting as a reliable tool to trace fish production methods and underpin seafood authentication.

Future perspectives on aptamer for application in food authentication

Food fraudulence and food contamination are major concerns, particularly among consumers with specific dietary, cultural, lifestyle, and religious requirements. Current food authentication methods have several drawbacks and limitations, necessitating the development of a simpler, more sensitive, and rapid detection approach for food screening analysis, such as an aptamer-based biosensor system. Although the use of aptamer is growing in various fields, aptamer applications for food authentication are still lacking. In this review, we discuss the limitations of existing food authentication technologies and describe the applications of aptamer in food analyses. We also project several potential targets or marker molecules to be targeted in the SELEX process. Finally, this review highlights the drawbacks of current aptamer technologies and outlines the potential route of aptamer selection and applications for successful food authentication. This review provides an overview of the use of aptamer in food research and its potential application as a molecular reporter for rapid detection in food authentication process. Developing databases to store all biochemical profiles of food and applying machine learning algorithms against the biochemical profiles are urged to accelerate the identification of more reliable biomarker molecules as aptamer targets for food authentication.

Food traceability 4.0 as part of the fourth industrial revolution: key enabling technologies

Food Traceability 4.0 (FT 4.0) is about tracing foods in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) with techniques and technologies reflecting this new revolution. Interest in food traceability has gained momentum in response to, among others events, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the need for digital food traceability that prevents food fraud and provides reliable information about food. This review will briefly summarize the most common conventional methods available to determine food authenticity before highlighting examples of emerging techniques that can be used to combat food fraud and improve food traceability. A particular focus will be on the concept of FT 4.0 and the significant role of digital solutions and other relevant Industry 4.0 innovations in enhancing food traceability. Based on this review, a possible new research topic, namely FT 4.0, is encouraged to take advantage of the rapid digitalization and technological advances occurring in the era of Industry 4.0. The main FT 4.0 enablers are blockchain, the Internet of things, artificial intelligence, and big data. Digital technologies in the age of Industry 4.0 have significant potential to improve the way food is traced, decrease food waste and reduce vulnerability to fraud opening new opportunities to achieve smarter food traceability. Although most of these emerging technologies are still under development, it is anticipated that future research will overcome current limitations making large-scale applications possible.

Development of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for the Rapid Authentication of Three Swimming Crab Species

Blue swimming crab meat is easily adulterated by other crab meats with a lower price. A potential authentication method is required to prevent mislabeling. LAMP assays were established to identify the meat of blue swimming crab, crucifix crab, and three spotted swimming crab. The primers were designed using PrimerExplorer V5. The specificity of the LAMP assay was tested compared to the PCR method. The sensitivity was conducted at the DNA concentrations of 0.4-50 ng/reaction. The results demonstrated that both LAMP and PCR could discriminate all species of crabs. LAMP showed a superior sensitivity to PCR in the three spotted swimming crab, while a similar result between LAMP and PCR was obtained in blue swimming crab. No changes in the detection efficacy were attained when boiled and steamed crab meats were applied. Therefore, the LAMP assay developed could potentially be applicable to detect the adulteration or mislabeling of raw or cooked crab meat in markets.

Sources of variation in elemental profiles of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and their potential effects on the accuracy of discriminant analysis

BACKGROUND

Elemental profiling is a tool that has been proposed to improve the traceability of seafood products. Small sources of variation can affect the outcome of elemental profiling and therefore pose to lower the overall accuracy of analyses. Here, we investigate two potential sources of variation through three experiments: laboratory variation (intra-, interlaboratory variation, and tissue matrix) and tissue variation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Samples of whitleleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) were obtained from 20 farms in Ecuador and two farms in Alabama to be analyzed. In the first experiment of the study, samples from Ecuador were analyzed at three different laboratories and compared. Two out of the five elements reported were statistically different across the three laboratories (Cu and Se). In the second experiment, the effect of tissue matrix (ground vs whole tissue during acid digestion) was investigated. Altogether, five out of 29 elements analyzed were statistically different. In the third experiment, samples from two farms in Alabama were analyzed to understand the variation in element concentrations in different tissues (head on shell on (HOSO), headless shell on (HLSO), headless peeled (PLD) and headless peeled and deveined (PLDV)). Elemental concentrations varied across tissues, and patterns in elemental concentrations were site specific. The samples from the two farms were analyzed with a Random Forest classification model to site x tissue groupings with 94% accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The result of this study highlights the following: 1. Consistency in laboratory analysis important in studies that involve element concentrations, as minor differences in methodology can propagate as significant differences in results. 2. In shrimp, elements are compartmentalized in different tissues and elemental profiling should consistently use the same type of tissue.