This paper reviews the use of SIRA of biological isotopes (H, C, O, N, S) in determining geographical origin for meat, poultry and dairy products, and production origin for seafood (wild or farmed).
Read the full paper at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1541-4337.12219/full
Copies of the presentations from the Government Chemist conference (21 - 22 June 2016) are now available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/science-supporting-trust-in-food-conference-presentations.
A number of cumin products were withdrawn from the market in 2015 with suspected almond adulteration, because of almond's allergenicity. Immunoassay tests were unable to provide unequivocal evidence of the Prunus species present, because of significant cross-reactivity with other species within the Prunus genus.
A novel real-time PCR assay was developed for the specific detection of Prunus mahaleb DNA, a species known to be capable of causing false positives in almond immunoassays. This paper reports the development of the assay and the preliminary results from its application.
The paper is open access and can be downloaded.
The FoodAuthenticity research page has recently been updated with a number of additional research reports and SOP references. About 12 projects have been added, covering topics a wide range of toics, including IR and Raman determination of vegetable oil species, feasibility of spectral imaging for food authenticity, proteomics and metagenomics methods, and a review of methods for distinguishing mechanically recovered meat. An SOP for calibration and use of IR and Raman methods for vegetable oils has also been added to our document site at http://documents.foodauthenticity.uk.
Authenticate is a cloud based technology platform, developed by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Seasoning and Spices Association (SSA) in liaison with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), which provides companies with a tool to help combat food fraud in herbs and spices.
Basic Membership to the Authenticate system is free.
Prof Elliott spoke to the Lords EU Committee about the reduction in the number of public analyst laboratories and reduced resources for enforcement officers compared to activities in other Member States. Although the FSA's National Food Crime Unit was welcomed, not one prosecution had been taken compared to 24 major investigations by the Dutch Food Crime Unit, and the seizing of 6.5 million Euros in criminal assets.
Read the article at: http://www.fwi.co.uk/news/horsemeat-type-scandal-could-happen-again.htm
This CBC News item looks at the effect of an increase in global honey production on the Manitoba bee keepers in Canada. The two countries responsible for the increase in honey on the global market are Argentina (selling mainly to the US) and China, which is passing off its honey through several other SE Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar.
Read the article at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/
The programme bought four takeaway meals in Blackpool – and had them tested by Public Analyst Dr Duncan Campbell, West Yorkshire Analytical Services. A researcher bought two curries, a kebab and a pizza. The curries and the kebab were all meant to be lamb – none were. The pizza cheese topping turned out to be 30% fake cheese despite a menu description of “100% mozzarella”.
Read the article at: http://www.itv.com/news/2016-06-23/food-fraud-what-are-we-really-eating-tonight/
The FSA's National Food Crime Unit has launched ‘Food Crime Confidential’ - a reporting facility where food crime can be reported safely and in confidence, over the phone and through email.
Read the Press Release at: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2016/15226/food-crime-confidential-launch
There has been increasing demand for Robusta coffee in developing and producing countries. Drier weather in Brazil and Vietnam- 2 major producers of Robusta coffee coupled with poorer harvests in Indonesia and India will give a lower production. Adulteration of Robusta coffee extracts have been a problem in the past.
Read the article at: http://agro2b.ru/en/news/32683-Expectations-poor-harvest-Robusta-coffee-can.html
An article describing the background to the launch of the Network and its objectives via the www.foodauthenticity.uk website has been published in Food Science and Technology Volume 30 Issue 2.
Read the article at: http://www.fstjournal.org/features/30-2/food-authenticity-network
An industry best practice guide on assessing and protecting the authenticity of herbs and spices was launched by FDF in June 2016. The guide was developed by the FDF, BRC and Seasoning and Spice Association(SSA) in liaison with the FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
The FDF Press Release can be read at: http://www.fdf.org.uk/news.aspx?article=7539
and the Guide can be found at: http://www.fdf.org.uk/herbs-spices-guidance.aspx
DG-Sante has told Italy it is infringing fish hygiene rules by treating squid with hydrogen peroxide. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide not only whitens the squid to falsify its quality, but acts as a preservative to extend shelf life.
Read the article at: http://barfblog.com/2016/06/food-fraud-eu-warns-italy-to-stop-treating-squid-with-hydrogen-peroxide/
Unfortunately a typo was spotted in the final version. Please replace the previous version with the pdf below.
The Newsletter has been distributed by e-mail to all our members. It can also be obtained on the following link:
The National Food Crime Unit has today launched Food Crime Confidential. This is a reporting facility where anyone with suspicions about food crime can report them safely and in confidence, over the phone or through email. The facility is particularly targeted at those working in or around the UK food industry.
The FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) works with partners to protect people from serious criminal activity that impacts the safety or authenticity of food and drink they consume.
Food crime involves dishonesty at any stage in the production or supply of food. It is often complex and likely to be seriously detrimental to consumers, businesses or the general public interest.
NFCU would like to receive any information relating to suspected dishonesty involving food, drink or animal feed. In addition to identifying and being able to tackle specific instances of food crime, such information will help us learn more about the circumstances that make offending possible.
The Food Authenticity Network has launched a new member products and services announcement page.
This page is for members to post brief articles or announcements concerning new products or services that may help other members monitor, detect or manage food authenticity issues. We encourage links to press releases or more detailed articles on members' own websites so further information is available to members who require it.
This is a great opportunity for members to inform the network of new developments related to food authenticity testing.
Please sign up to the Network to get all the posts and follow the page to get email alerts of new posts.
We look forward to hearing about your exciting new developments..........
This paper gives a review of the current and potential applications of ambient ionisation mass spectrometry in determining the authenticity of food. Ambient mass spectrometry (based on electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry) has developed rapidly in the past 18 years and covers thirty different techniques. The review reports the authentication of many foods including olive oil, dairy products, coffee, meat and fish, but quantification using ambient mass spectrometry is still an issue and requires further work.
Read the full article at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993616301017
An FDA Press Notice gives details of a new Regulation to prevent food adulteration and fraud. It obliges for the first time all companies (US and foreign) marketing food in the US to complete and maintain a written food defence plan that assesses their potential vulnerabilities to deliberate contamination or adulteration, where the intent is to cause wide-scale public health harm.
Read the full FDA Press Release at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm503586.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
