To get the most out of being a Member,
visit our Hints & Tips page

John Points posted a blog post
Most researchers conclude that there is too little intact DNA in gelatin for traditional PCR to be applicable as a species authentication method.  A recent paper (here – open access) published in the pharmaceutical press is unusual in reporting…
20 hours ago
John Points posted a blog post
A recent study (here – open access) reported the development and validation of a duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for simultaneous identification of sheep and goat meat.  Amplicons were detected using high-resolution melt…
yesterday
John Points posted blog posts
Wednesday
John Points posted a blog post
A new palm oil traceability system is being launched in Ghana.  The system, developed last year in collaboration with Solidaridad, is a collaboration between the Ghana FDA and the Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association.  It is…
Tuesday
John Points posted a blog post
This critical review (here – purchase required) discusses the strengths and weaknesses of current methods that are routinely used within the food industry for meat species authentication.  The authors classify methods as protein-based,…
May 29
John Points posted a blog post
The authors of this study (here - open access) describe a novel composite thin film based on rhodamine B encapsulated into MOF-5 (Metal Organic Frameworks) as a fluorescence sensor for the real-time verification of the freshness of chilled pork. The…
May 26
John Points posted a blog post
Registration for this hybrid course at University of Parma, Italy, is open (here) until 2 June.  It is aimed at Parma PhDs but open to others to sign up.  The course promises to bring together the most advanced technical skills from STEM and the…
May 25
John Points posted a blog post
This incident was reported in the Spanish press (here).  40,000 Euro-worth of almonds were rejected at port of entry due to high aflatoxin tests.  The importer certified they had sent the load for incineration.  In fact, they tried to divert them…
May 24
John Points posted blog posts
May 23
John Points posted blog posts
May 22
John Points posted a blog post
The annual “State of Counterfeiting in India” report has been published for 2022 (here) by the Authentication Solutions Providers Association (ASPA).  As well as counterfeit spirits, it highlights counterfeit agrochemicals as a particular concern…
May 19
John Points posted a blog post
Goat meat has a price premium over sheep meat in many countries. They are visually very similar.  The authors of this study (here – purchase required) report a novel DNA test that does not require amplification using heating cycles (PCR).  This…
May 18
John Points posted a blog post
Coffee beans from different regions and of different species have different commercial values. A recent paper (here – open access) reported a method to differentiate green beans from different species (Arabica vs Rustica) and harvested from…
May 17
John Points posted a blog post
The EU and UK legal definition of honey is specifically the product of Apis mellifera (Western Honey Bee).  It excludes the product of Apis cerana (Asian Honey Bee).  The authors of a recent study (here – purchase required) used multivariate…
May 16
John Points posted a blog post
The authors of a recent study (here – purchase required) investigated the effect of using different chemometric models to differentiate rice varieties using the same multivariate technique (Raman spectroscopy, also using FT-IR as a comparator) and…
May 14
John Points posted a blog post
Edible poppy seeds may be diluted with poppy seeds that do not meet specifications on alkaloid content (e.g. have not been harvested or washed following specified protocols) or with cheaper species such as sesame or chia.  In a recent…
May 12
More…