New Member Products and Services - FoodAuthenticity2024-03-29T01:01:57Zhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/feed/allIntroducing the Food Forensics Risk Newsletterhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/introducing-the-food-forensics-risk-newsletter2023-06-06T09:20:52.000Z2023-06-06T09:20:52.000ZAlison Johnsonhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/AlisonJohnson<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11441937660?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Are you looking for a reliable source of information to stay ahead of potential risks and supply chain disruptions in the food industry? Look no further! Food Forensics, recognised as a Food Authenticity Network Centre of Expertise, is excited to introduce our monthly Risk Newsletter.</p><p>Designed to be read in just 20 minutes, our Risk Newsletter is a comprehensive and concise resource that will empower you to make informed decisions and proactively manage potential risks. We understand the challenges faced by businesses in horizon scanning and converting vast amounts of data into actionable insights. That's why we created this newsletter—to bridge the gap between information overload and effective risk management.</p><p>What can you expect in our Risk Newsletter?</p><p>Unlike traditional horizon scanning reports, our Risk Newsletter focuses on supply issues within key food categories such as produce, proteins, oils and fats, and even pet food. We delve into various factors, including weather impacts, supply and demand imbalances, price differentials, disease outbreaks, and supply chain disruptions. By highlighting these potential risks, we help you identify early warning signs and enable you to take proactive measures to mitigate them.</p><p>In addition, our "In The News" section captures reported incidents related to food authenticity and fraud, keeping you updated on emerging trends and potential threats. We go beyond authenticity risk alone and also cover key areas such as modern slavery, environmental and sustainability concerns, food safety summaries, and food authenticity trends. These insights are powered by our proprietary online searchable database tool, the "Knowledge Base," ensuring you have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information.</p><p>Become a subscriber today and unlock the benefits!</p><p>For a limited time, we are offering subscription to the Risk Newsletter at a highly affordable price. UK subscribers can access the newsletter for only £99 per year, while international subscribers can join for just £120 per year. This investment in knowledge is a small price to pay compared to the potential risks and costs associated with supply chain disruptions or authenticity issues.</p><p>We are so confident in the value our Risk Newsletter provides that we invite you to experience it firsthand. Contact Barry Hilton at <a href="mailto:barry.hilton@foodforensics.co.uk">barry.hilton@foodforensics.co.uk</a>, and he will be delighted to share a complementary copy with you. Discover how our Risk Newsletter can enhance your risk management plans and help safeguard your business against potential threats.</p><p>Stay one step ahead in the ever-changing world of food authenticity and risk management. Subscribe to the Food Forensics Risk Newsletter today!</p></div>Orange mousse with nuts leaves Strand Palace with £70K bill!https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/orange-mousse-with-nuts-leaves-strand-palace-with-70k-bill2023-04-30T19:32:22.000Z2023-04-30T19:32:22.000ZCaroline Benjaminhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/CarolineBenjamin<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11038229072?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p> </p><p>This week we have heard in the <strong><em><a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/orange-mousse-with-nuts-leaves-strand-palace-ps70-000-bill-b1077736.html">news that the Strand Palace Hotel has been fined for serving a Food Hypersensitive customer a dessert in 2019 </a></em></strong>which was not supposed to contain nuts, however it appears there was a possible mix up with another similar dessert and incorrect labelling was used in error.</p><p>The four-star Strand Palace Hotel and Restaurants, which sits opposite Somerset House, has been convicted of health and safety breaches. Bosses were ordered to pay a £50,000 fine, with more than £15,000 in costs to Westminster council, which brought the prosecution, and a £5,000 compensation payment to the customer.</p><p>There appears to have been an error in the supply chain and ingredients from a similar dish where used which did not contain nuts, when the specific dish served did contain nuts - due diligence in checking labelling and the supply chain labelling is just one gateway, and delivery of the correct product is another!</p><p>Could this be your hotel or restaurant? Our <strong><em><a href="https://foodallergyaware.co.uk/events/mock-trial-a-sentencing-hearing-in-a-food-allergy-mock-prosecution-case/">Mock Trial Experience demonstrates the sentencing of a Food Allergy prosecution on 26 September</a> </em></strong>will look at how you can monitor your processes, with gateways throughout your procedures to ensure Near Misses are picked up on and reviewed on a regular basis no matter how unimportant they may seem!</p><p>Our third event will be back in the room, where delegates will be able to network and participate in the proceedings. We will have the court room scenario of a defendant, hotelier who is prosecuted after a catalogue of failures, resulting in a near fatality with a FHS customer receiving CPR, and hospital treatment after an adrenaline pen was dispensed.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11038229284,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11038229284,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="11038229284?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p><p>There will be a prosecution and defence barristers in attendance with a judge presiding over the sentencing hearing. The audience will participate as the jury making the decisions on the seriousness of the offence, to set the fine, and imprisonment if appropriate.</p><p>In addition, we will have a range of speakers including the Food Standards Agency update on what’s coming next. Belinda Stuart-Moonlight on what went wrong in the tragic death of Celia Marsh when she purchased a vegan wrap from Pret-a-Manger, Belinda, an expert witness will review the inquest findings and lessons learnt. Iain Ferris will walk us through Improvement Notices from a Hospitality and Local Authorities perspective, and how they can work together to keep the FHS customer safe. </p><p>The agenda can be accessed <strong><em><a href="https://foodallergyaware.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20230416-Agenda-on-web.pdf">here</a></em></strong></p><p>No restaurant plans to cause an allergic reaction to their customers, but it’s something you should seriously consider within your risk assessment planning.</p><p>Food Business Operations (FBO) should review EVERY aspect of safety within their business and consider worse case scenario’s which could cause fatalities or serious reactions.</p><p> A similar situation to the Strand palace happened recently to a colleague who is allergic to one of the more common food allergens, when they attended a dinner. They stated at each stage of the planning (in writing weeks before and on the day in person) about their allergy, with a real focus on the seriousness/severity (i.e., possibly fatal). They were assured that their food was 'safe' from the allergen and the venue was 'well aware of their situation’.</p><p>Unfortunately, they had a very severe reaction, with EPIPEN adrenaline needles being administered together with CPR within minutes of the anaphylactic shock (on the floor of the location, mere yards from the dinner table). Fortunately, they survived, albeit after an immediate hospital admission. Two months on they are still experiencing serious physical and mental effects from the attack.</p><p>Questions are asked, was there a policy? were staff trained? If these questions were answered as yes, where did it go wrong and where could it go wrong for your business?</p><p>Food Allergy Aware is offering your staff the opportunity to participate in a <strong><u><a href="https://foodallergyaware.co.uk/events/mock-trial-a-sentencing-hearing-in-a-food-allergy-mock-prosecution-case/">Mock Trial Food Allergy Prosecution Experience on Tuesday 26 September</a> at the <a href="https://heartofengland.uk/">Heart of England Conference Centre</a>.</u></strong></p><p><em>“I wish that I never needed to visit any food service establishments to conduct food allergy training and that restaurants were totally safe for those with allergies, but we continually hear about mistakes, bad practice and companies who are not aware of the risks. Until food allergies are taken seriously everywhere we will continue to raise awareness, train, and educate.</em></p><p><em>Participating in the mock trial really brings home all the areas where mistakes can happen!</em></p><p>Check out event by <strong><em><u><a href="https://foodallergyaware.co.uk/events/mock-trial-a-sentencing-hearing-in-a-food-allergy-mock-prosecution-case/">clicking here</a> </u></em></strong>– Early bird rates in place until 31 May 2023 so book early to save money, group discounts available</p><p>Click on the following link to find out the Strand Palace news item -<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/orange-mousse-with-nuts-leaves-strand-palace-ps70-000-bill-b1077736.html">https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/orange-mousse-with-nuts-leaves-strand-palace-ps70-000-bill-b1077736.html</a></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11038230274,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11038230274,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="620" alt="11038230274?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p><p> </p></div>Food Updates Available via blog and vlog - please sign up!https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-updates-available-via-blog-and-vlog-please-sign-up2023-01-24T12:05:48.000Z2023-01-24T12:05:48.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>Please see LinkedIn for weekly food updates at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-burt-5876b137/">(2) Jessica Burt | LinkedIn</a></p><p>Please see the food and agri legal blog for general written updates <a href="https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness">Latest legal news, insights and events from Mills & Reeve | Mills & Reeve | Page 1 of 6 (mills-reeve.com)</a></p></div>Video blog updateshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/video-blog-updates2023-01-24T12:02:57.000Z2023-01-24T12:02:57.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>On food and agri matters available weekly on Linked In - please see</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-burt-5876b137/">(2) Jessica Burt | LinkedIn</a> </p><p>Very best wishes</p></div>Food Fraud - What checks to do as a business?https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-fraud-what-checks-to-do-as-a-business2023-01-24T12:01:52.000Z2023-01-24T12:01:52.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>Please see following article for plan of action for a food busines:</p><p><a href="https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness/january-2023/10-years-horsemeat-scandal-are-you-complacent-agai">10 years since 'Horsegate' - Are you complacent about Food Fraud? - Mills & Reeve (mills-reeve.com)</a> </p><p> </p></div>Food and Agri Updateshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-and-agri-updates2023-01-24T12:00:40.000Z2023-01-24T12:00:40.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>Please do follow this legal food blog <a href="https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness">Latest legal news, insights and events from Mills & Reeve | Mills & Reeve | Page 1 of 6 (mills-reeve.com)</a> for regular updates on all things relating to food including authenticity.</p></div>food and agri vlog update 18 Nov 2022https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-and-agri-vlog-update-18-nov-20222022-11-18T12:59:04.000Z2022-11-18T12:59:04.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_budget-food-agri-activity-6999351519460343808-FLOR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop">https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_budget-food-agri-activity-6999351519460343808-FLOR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop</a></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>Food & Agri Legal bloghttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-agri-legal-blog2022-11-11T17:54:39.000Z2022-11-11T17:54:39.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>Please join our legal blog for regular updates on food sector. Note of last weekly update available. #foodblog #agri #legal</p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness/november-2022/food-and-agri-weekly-update-11-november-2022">https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness/november-2022/food-and-agri-weekly-update-11-november-2022</a></p></div>Food and Agri Weekly Update 11 Novhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-and-agri-weekly-update-11-nov2022-11-11T17:49:53.000Z2022-11-11T17:49:53.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><ol><li style="text-align:left;">Food & Agri weekly update on all things regulatory, legal and advertising in the last wee. Link to short video update looking at #Cop27 to #plastics to #birdflu #foodfraud #foodsupply #asa #advertising #conveniencestores </li></ol><p style="text-align:left;"> </p><p style="text-align:left;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_update-food-agri-activity-6996857251860733952-35kx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android">https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_update-food-agri-activity-6996857251860733952-35kx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android</a></p></div>Food & Agri Weekly Update Friday 4 Novhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-agri-weekly-update-friday-4-nov2022-11-04T16:09:32.000Z2022-11-04T16:09:32.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>Food inflation and bird flu - also a look at Defra's review of Packaging recovery Notes System. </p><p>Genetic Technology bill and Advertising Standards Authority useful rulings for the food sector.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_food-technology-packaging-activity-6994322711778852866-P71F?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop">https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_food-technology-packaging-activity-6994322711778852866-P71F?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_food-technology-packaging-activity-6994322711778852866-P71F?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop" target="_blank">Blog</a></p></div>Food and Agri Legal Bloghttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-and-agri-legal-blog2022-10-28T15:10:54.000Z2022-10-28T15:10:54.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>Please join our food and agri blog - I don't spam! A draft summary of the latest weekly update is provided here:</p><p><a href="https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness/october-2022/food-and-agri-update-friday-28-october">Food and Agri Update Friday 28 October - Mills & Reeve (mills-reeve.com)</a></p><p><a href="https://www.mills-reeve.com/insights/blogs/food-and-agribusiness/october-2022/food-and-agri-update-friday-28-october" target="_blank">Blog</a></p></div>Food & Agri Weekly Update Friday 28 Octhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/food-agri-weekly-update-friday-28-oct2022-10-28T14:51:37.000Z2022-10-28T14:51:37.000ZJessica Burthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JessicaBurt<div><p>The new PM & new cabinet, what does it mean for food & Agri? ASA adjudications and making marketing communications clear enough. The new avian flu support package is launched today to support bird producers. New online food safety charter launched. Check your food safety as a €250m civil suit is launched in France and finally food fraud in supply chain, what to check for.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_food-foodsafety-marketing-activity-6991751713342812160-9qOf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop%C2%A0">https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-burt-5876b137_food-foodsafety-marketing-activity-6991751713342812160-9qOf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop </a></p><p><a href="" target="_blank">Update</a></p><p> </p></div>AUTHENTICITY TESTING OF ORGANIC SALMON AND OTHER SEAFOOD PRODUCTShttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/authenticity-testing-of-organic-salmon-and-other-seafood-products2022-02-02T07:26:32.000Z2022-02-02T07:26:32.000ZDavid Psomiadishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/DavidPsomiadis<div><p><strong>Through a joint effort, the two companies have developed a highly advanced chemical fingerprinting analysis method based stable isotope ratios. The first markets to be offered evidence-based transparency based on this new analysis tool will be the seafood market and the dietary supplement market, where the method already has been tested and validated. To verify if a salmon product is organic or not seems to be a popular application so far, based on feedback from pilot testing with commercial partners.</strong></p><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_1"><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column_1 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"><div class="et_pb_text_inner">The background for the collaboration is the increasing demand for a reliable traceability documentation for consumer products. To be able to document and prove the origin of certain products is becoming more and more critical as modern consumers demand transparency and evidence for product label claims.</div></div></div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column_2 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_0"><span class="et_pb_image_wrap"><img class="wp-image-6842 ls-is-cached lazyloaded" title="salmon" src="https://cdn-amcem.nitrocdn.com/umwtxuWmuGeGtBpNUVhPpbhKOJsOzzcG/assets/static/optimized/rev-564174d/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/salmon.jpg" alt="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_2"><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_3 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"><div class="et_pb_text_inner"><em>“We see that this increasing demand is especially expressed for seafood products where the origin is of extra importance for consumers. These are products where it is very challenging to determine if the claims made on the product label are correct or not. One example is organic salmon products, where many consumers are worried that the products they are buying are, in fact, not organic. We can now provide them with the ultimate evidence; a laboratory test performed by an independent third party.”</em>, says Svein Erik Haugmo, CEO of ORIVO, and adds that omega-3 concentrates is another group of products that can be authenticated:</div></div></div></div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_3 nitro-offscreen et_pb_row_1-4_3-4"><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_4 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_1"> </div></div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_5 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"><div class="et_pb_text_inner"><em>“Omega-3 concentrates make up a big part of the omega-3 products on the market today. Until now, it has been impossible to determine the origin of these products through a direct laboratory analysis. With this new tool and a strong database of reference samples from the most common fish oil sources, we can now expand our current authentication services from natural omega-3 products to the entire market.”</em> Haugmo is also proud to announce the strategic collaboration with Imprint Analytics GmbH from Austria:</div></div></div></div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_4 nitro-offscreen"><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_6 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"><div class="et_pb_text_inner"><em>“Imprint is a global leader within stable isotope analyses and authentication of food products. With Imprint´s competence on board, ORIVO aims to deliver the best and most precise stable isotope-based testing and certification services to the global seafood and omega-3 market.</em>”<p> </p><p>Imprint will be both a highly competent R&D partner and a professional high-throughput laboratory for ORIVO´s running operations. Imprint´s Chief Business Officer, David Psomiadis, is looking forward to the ORIVO collaboration:</p><p><em>“Recent studies show that it is becoming harder to attract the attention of the consumer through product claims due to rising distrust. So, what could be more effective than providing authenticity verification evidence? In this context, the execution of an authentication programme could be used for brand protection in more than one sense, enabling companies to maintain, strengthen, or even regain consumer trust in their products. Our common principles and vision with ORIVO in providing complete testing, verification and certification services to the seafood industry secures reliable and trustworthy evidence-based traceability tools. These tools are now available to help food operators safeguard responsible sourcing, sustainability protocols and ESG strategic corporate policies”</em>.</p><p>Psomiadis highlights the importance of working with experts in their field:</p><p><em>“We strongly believe that collaborating with experts secures high-value verification products. Our collaboration with ORIVO aims exactly to this direction: ORIVO’s experience and market position in the seafood certification business is a key to make this venture successful as well as of utmost use for the industry.”</em></p><p>The two companies report that the first commercial assignments based on this new and revolutionary testing have already been successfully delivered to a handful of pilot customers, and that the service now will be offered to the entire market. </p><p>More information about it: <a href="https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/12/09/ORIVO-and-Imprint-Analytics-collaborate-on-seafood-authenticity-with-multi-isotope-fingerprinting-tech">https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/12/09/ORIVO-and-Imprint-Analytics-collaborate-on-seafood-authenticity-with-multi-isotope-fingerprinting-tech</a></p><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_10 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_3"><a href="http://www.imprint-analytics.at/" target="_blank"><span class="et_pb_image_wrap"><img class="wp-image-23 ls-is-cached lazyloaded" title="Logo-ImprintAnalytics" src="https://cdn-amcem.nitrocdn.com/umwtxuWmuGeGtBpNUVhPpbhKOJsOzzcG/assets/static/optimized/rev-564174d/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Logo-ImprintAnalytics.png" alt="" width="154" height="84" /></span></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Building brand integrity, trust and transparency with state of the art Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) metabolite fingerprints.https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/building-brand-integrity-trust-and-transparency-with-state-of-the2021-10-22T15:48:03.000Z2021-10-22T15:48:03.000ZTerry Dennishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/TerryDennis<div><p><a href="https://youtu.be/f1jNoXaN5og" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/f1jNoXaN5og</a></p></div><a href="https://purity-iq.com/purity-iq-contributes-1000000-to-nhp-research-alliance-at-the-university-of-guelph/">https://purity-iq.com/purity-iq-contributes-1000000-to-nhp-research-alliance-at-the-https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/https-purity-iq-com-purity-iq-contributes-1000000-to-nhp-research2021-04-16T17:57:35.000Z2021-04-16T17:57:35.000ZPaul Valderhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/PaulValder<div><p><a href="https://purity-iq.com/purity-iq-contributes-1000000-to-nhp-research-alliance-at-the-university-of-guelph/">https://purity-iq.com/purity-iq-contributes-1000000-to-nhp-research-alliance-at-the-university-of-guelph/</a></p><p> </p></div>SparkleEIM - A new universal instrument for a new scientific erahttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/sparkleeim-new-universal-instrument-for-new-scientific-era2020-12-01T17:34:34.000Z2020-12-01T17:34:34.000ZIvan Smajlovichttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/IvanSmajlovic<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8237418688?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:18pt;"><strong>The future is here!</strong> We at SG Isotech simply call it the <strong>MAGIC BOX</strong>! </span></p><p><strong><em><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8237440498?profile=original" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8237440498?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="8237440498?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></em></strong></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>Sparkle</em>EIM</strong></span> is a totally autonomous universal instrument which can replace several very expensive peripherals and instruments for isotopic analysis. Now with <strong><em>Sparkle</em>EIM</strong> customers don't need HPLC, EA, Equilibration peripherals or NMR so that they could detect and authenticate wine, honey, strong spirits, fruit juices, fruit concentrates, beverage waters, etc... With <strong><em>Sparkle</em>EIM</strong> you can simply determine d13C values in solid and liquid samples, d18O values in wine, fruit juice and/or beverage waters, d18O value in ethanol, ethanol dDn value of non-exchangeable hydrogen in wine, fermented fruit juice, strong spirit, fermented honey ethanol and to detect very easily adulteration and additions of materials with different botanical origin. Further you can detect illegal addition of water to wine samples and much, much more... <strong><em>Sparkle</em>EIM</strong> coupled to your IRMS unit can give you all necessary analytical information for which until now you had to buy very expensive NMR, and full IRMS configuration containing HPLC peripheral, EA and equilibration technique for determination of d18O value in beverage water. Now <strong><em>Sparkle</em>EIM</strong> represents the ONE RING to bind them all in only ONE instrument and give you better performance!</p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8237470473,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><em>Sparkle</em>EIM.mp4</a></strong></p><p><strong><span id="ember1228" class="ember-view">EIM technology references:</span></strong></p><p><span class="ember-view">EIM-IRMS has better repeatability standard deviation for Hydrogen than standard IRMS Hydrogen measurement. EIM-IRMS rSTDEV= max 1 promil. At the Directorate for National Reference Laboratories of Republic of Serbia we have obtained EIM-IRMS champion results for repeatability standard deviation of 0,2 promil!! This puts EIM-IRMS on the throne as the most accurate isotopic technique on planet Earth, even better than NMR!</span></p><p><span class="ember-view"><strong>EIM-IRMS interlaboratory testing:</strong> </span><a id="ember1231" class="feed-link ember-view" href="https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/full_html/2019/04/bioconf-oiv2019_02007/bioconf-oiv2019_02007.html" target="_blank">https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/full_html/2019/04/bioconf-oiv2019_02007/bioconf-oiv2019_02007.html</a><span id="ember1233" class="ember-view"></span></p><p><strong><span class="ember-view">EIM-IRMS brochure: </span></strong><a id="ember1236" class="feed-link ember-view" href="https://www.sgisotech.com/upload/Product/SpecificationDocument/2020-01/Technical%20broshure%20for%20EIMPyro%20Peripheral.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.sgisotech.com/upload/Product/SpecificationDocument/2020-01/Technical%20broshure%20for%20EIMPyro%20Peripheral.pdf</a><span id="ember1238" class="ember-view"></span></p><p><span class="ember-view">Russians confirmed that EIM-IRMS eats NMR for breakfast! </span><a id="ember1241" class="feed-link ember-view" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lm303Wb7T-O15Ew6Adj2kEufE0lrNQk6/view" target="_blank">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lm303Wb7T-O15Ew6Adj2kEufE0lrNQk6/view</a><span id="ember1243" class="ember-view"></span></p><p><span class="ember-view">SparkleEIM with our OXYPrep sample preparation unit can give d18O values in wine and beverage water as good as equilibration technique coupled to IRMS: </span><a id="ember1246" class="feed-link ember-view" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_zESMD7fgNvTMB1JyWbHj_cFQDapSOd/view" target="_blank">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_zESMD7fgNvTMB1JyWbHj_cFQDapSOd/view</a><span id="ember1248" class="ember-view"></span></p><p><span class="ember-view"><strong>EIM-IRMS honey authenticity testing:</strong> <a href="https://www.sgisotech.com/en/technology/honey-testing" target="_blank">https://www.sgisotech.com/en/technology/honey-testing</a> </span></p><p><span class="ember-view">for more information and quotes you can contact us at </span><a id="ember1251" class="feed-link ember-view" href="mailto:office@sgisotech.com" target="_blank">office@sgisotech.com</a><span id="ember1253" class="ember-view"> or </span><a id="ember1256" class="feed-link ember-view" href="mailto:ivan@sgisotech.com" target="_blank">ivan@sgisotech.com</a></p></div>Combat food fraud: Meet Misahttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/combat-food-fraud-meet-misa2020-07-27T09:54:35.000Z2020-07-27T09:54:35.000ZPaul Bonserhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/PaulBonser<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7143003252?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><div id="page-container" class="et-animated-content"><div id="et-main-area"><div id="main-content"><div class="container"><div id="content-area" class="clearfix"><div id="left-area"><div class="entry-content"><div id="et-boc" class="et-boc"><div class="et-l et-l--post"><div class="et_builder_inner_content et_pb_gutters3"><div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_section_regular"><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_12"><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_3 et_pb_column_16 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_9 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"><div class="et_pb_text_inner"><div class="l-page"><h3><strong style="font-size:13px;">Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyser) is a new, portable instrument for rapid, presumptive testing of foodstuffs at the point of sampling. Smaller than a shoe box, this new solution can be taken anywhere and gives public authorities and retailers the possibility to check all kinds of foodstuffs for notorious adulterants, residues of banned, highly toxic pesticides and herbicides or even illegal growth hormones in a few seconds. It is operated by a simple App and can be used by anyone with only a minimum of sample preparation required. Several free Application Notes prove the validity of the Misa system.</strong></h3><div class="mod mod-richtext"><div class="r-content"><strong>Economically Motivated Adulteration (EMA)</strong> of food is a costly problem harming people all over the world. Notorious suspects are:<br /><ul><li>Industrial dyes used in brightly colored candies</li><li>Pesticides residues on fruits and vegetables</li><li>Illicit pharmaceuticals used to mimic traditional herbal medicines</li><li>Illegal growth hormones in meat</li></ul><p>Metrohm is pleased to present a range of free applications to detect artificial colourants, residues of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides that are banned by many public authorities due to their suspected carcinogenic nature.</p></div></div></div><p><em> if you would like to know more see, the link below: </em></p></div></div></div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column_17 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_5"><em><a href="https://metrohm.blog/2020/06/29/sers-misa/">https://metrohm.blog/2020/06/29/sers-misa/</a></em></div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_5"> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cannabis Authenticity & Purity Standard (CAPS)https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/cannabis-authenticity-purity-standard-caps2020-07-15T17:40:00.000Z2020-07-15T17:40:00.000ZPaul Valderhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/PaulValder<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/6907960070?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Purity-IQ is pleased to announce the launch of their global Cannabis Authenticity & Purity Standard (CAPS), designed to verify and validate the safe and consistent supply of legal cannabis and hemp, from inputs to final products and throughout the supply value-chain. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Cannabis and hemp are natural products increasingly consumed for their perceived health benefits by those seeking alternative nutrition and medicine to deal with common ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety, infections, and compromised immunity. In many jurisdictions where these products are legally available, government regulations tend to stipulate only the basic safety requirements. In most other established industry sectors, brands, retailers, and consumers demand far more than the minimum regulatory requirements and usually impose more rigorous safety and quality brand protection measures from their suppliers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">During the Steering Committee session, Dr. Steven Newmaster, Director of the <a href="http://nhpalliance.com/">NHP Research Alliance</a> at the <a href="https://www.uoguelph.ca/">University of Guelph</a> presented the unique and innovative science elements. “As part of a medical cannabis proof of concept, we are now able to uniquely identify a given strain / cultivar based on both metabolite profiles using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and DNA chip bioinformatics. The data analytics form a unique cultivar IP 'Fingerprint' in the <a href="https://purity-iq.com/cannabis/">Purity-IQ Global Cannabis Registry</a>, which can be used to verify 'batch-to-batch' consistency in on-going quality assurance programs,” states Dr. Newmaster. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">During a recent CAPS Steering Committee meeting participants also interacted with presenters such as Roger Muse, a Vice President at the <a href="http://www.anab.org/">ANSI American National Accreditation Board (ANAB)</a>, who spoke about the value of third-party accreditation, standards, and testing methods specifically designed for the cannabis industry. “We are excited to be working with Purity-IQ whose CAPS third-party certification will combine requirements for ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation process together with ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation. As a condition for doing business, the CAPS certification process will provide brands and specifiers with much needed safety and consistency assurances.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Purity-IQ Global Cannabis Registry will serve as an important tool to satisfy an industry need for tracking and tracing cannabis and hemp products. With strict permissions and securities, the Global Cannabis Registry will routinely be pushing scientifically validated “Fingerprint” data into trusted data sources and blockchain partners. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">“The need to scientifically identify genomic and chemical attributes as a form of benchmarking all cannabis-based inputs prior to performing clinical trials is of monumental importance,” states Paul Valder, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer for Purity-IQ. “Today we have the capability to process and register cultivars from legal producers and sellers to create a unique 'Fingerprint' designed to populate the <a href="https://purity-iq.com/cannabis/">Global Cannabis Registry</a> for easy reference purposes. Within weeks Purity-IQ will also finalize and provide Standard Operating Procedures for product stability testing at Purity-IQ recognized commercial laboratories.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The CAPS Certfication Program welcomes a limited number of cannabis industry stakeholders, who may interested to participate in the Technical Industry Working Group (IWG), to review a draft of the technical requirements and provide comment for the final CAPS Beta Version, due for publishing and implementaion by the end of 2020. Those interested, please contact <strong>Amber Thelen</strong>, Purity-IQ Technical Compliance Manager, at <strong>amber.thelen@purity-iq.com</strong></span><span style="font-size:12pt;">. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Note</span>: the IWG is limited to 25 industry operators and stakeholders.</span></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>Fighting the well-oiled machine of olive oil adulterationhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/fighting-the-well-oiled-machine-of-olive-oil-adulteration2020-02-20T10:15:15.000Z2020-02-20T10:15:15.000ZSavvas Xystourishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SavvasXystouris<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3874322762?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p> </p><p>According to the <a href="http://cms.herbalgram.org/BAP/pdf/BAPP-BABs-OliveOil-CC20new-012020-FINAL.pdf">Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP)</a> new bulletin, extra virgin olive oil is still being listed among the most common food frauds worldwide. The distinctive sensory profile, and its reputation as a healthy source of dietary fats has made olive oil a premium product, which is why it’s become a target for fraudsters.</p><p>The problem even affects those varieties bearing the coveted <a href="https://www.oliveoilmarket.eu/origins/europian-pdos/">Protected designation of origin (PDO) and Protected geographical indication (PGI)</a> stamps indicating the precise geographical origin of a particular extra virgin olive oil to ensure the quality of that region’s agricultural products, and which are subjected to more strict controls.</p><p>That’s why a number of regulation and standards have been introduced which aim to reduce the amount of fraudulent olive oil on the market. This includes the EU’s <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex:31991R2568">Regulation (EU) 2568/91</a>, standards of the <a href="https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/what-we-do/chemistry-standardisation-unit/standards-and-methods/">International olive oil council (IOC)</a> and <a href="http://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/88/CXS_033e_2015.pdf">CODEX </a><a href="http://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/88/CXS_033e_2015.pdf">alimentarius</a><a href="http://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/88/CXS_033e_2015.pdf"> STAN 33–1981</a>. However it’s a new initiative from The European Union Horizon 2020 which might help turn the tide in the producers and consumers’ favour.</p><p>Starting in September 2016, <a href="http://www.oleumproject.eu/">Project OLEUM</a> aims to better guarantee olive oil quality and authenticity through improved methods for detecting and preventing olive oil fraud. Determining the authenticity of olive oil with traditional methods was problematic because its fatty acid composition overlaps with that of several other cheaper oils.</p><p><em>“Research will also focus on developing <strong>new instrumental analytical methods</strong> for identifying illegal blends of olive oils with other vegetable oils or lower quality products, for evaluating freshness and predicting best-before date, and for monitoring compliance with the labelled geographical origin and the EU health claim on polyphenols.”</em></p><p>One of the new methods for detection, is Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry. This method is able to detect adulteration due to the differences in isotope ratio between different sources of olive oil. Isotope analysis of the H, C and O compositions of bulk oil or oil sub-components is used because the isotopic ratios of H, C and O change with the botanical origin and with the climatic and geographical characteristics of the location where the plant was grown.</p><p>Using the advanced technology of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry is a powerful way to identify and thus prevent extra virgin olive oil adulteration and criteria relating to this technique may be expected to appear in the appropriate Codex standards in the future.</p><p>LGC Proficiency Testing’s Food Chemistry (QFCS) scheme and now Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) scheme offer samples relating to olive oil authenticity and quality.</p><p>The new FIRMS 1 sample allows participants to test their ability to measure differences in isotope ratio between different sources of olive oil.</p><p>Click here to see the range of LGC Proficiency Testing Olive Oil Samples - <a href="https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/search?q=Olive+Oil:relevance:categoryName:Proficiency+Testing">https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/search?q=Olive+Oil:relevance:categoryName:Proficiency+Testing</a></p><p> </p><p>(Author: Dominic Keely, LGC)</p></div>OPSON VIII operation: is this the way to target fraud with organics in the EU?https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/opson-viii-operation-is-this-the-way-to-target-fraud-with-organic2019-09-13T06:52:53.000Z2019-09-13T06:52:53.000ZIna Hiesterhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/InaHiester<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3554125459?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Since 2011, Interpol and Europol have been undertaking the so-called OPSON operations. Opson is an ancient Greek word for valuable food. The name could not have been chosen more wisely, as the operations target crime within our food supply chains, where fraudsters sell less valuable products for higher prices, making money that they do not deserve.</p><p><strong>OPSON VIII reveals crime within the organic sector</strong></p><p>The OPSON operations are meanwhile carried out annually, joining efforts of police, customs, national food regulatory bodies and private companies across borders. In 2018, the operation <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/food-fraud_succ-coop_2019_org-prods_qandas.pdf" target="_blank">OPSON VIII</a> has, for the first time, investigated fraud cases in the organic sector, where the organic label is more and more frequently being misused. By making false promises and misleading consumers, criminals are damaging the reputation of the organic brand worldwide. OPSON VIII was run across 16 EU member states and uncovered the use of unauthorized substances, marketing of conventionally produced food to the organic market and the use of falsified documents to blur the traceability of the products. Investigations are still under way but resulted already in a number of administrative and criminal proceedings, sanctioning of operators and the seizing of products. The findings show again that criminals will take advantage of any and every opportunity open to them to make a profit. But will annual, foreseeable operations like OPSON VIII be enough to deter them from undermining organic integrity on the long run?</p><p><strong>The EU organic control system is outdated</strong></p><p>Without a doubt, the operation – although urgently needed – only skimmed the tip of the iceberg. Scandals and sanctions make great headlines, but the organic market is simply too attractive for fraudsters to be put off that easily. One scandal with mislabeled products follows the next one, and consumers loose trust in seals and labels which promote sustainable production practices. Yet, our organic control systems lack effective prevention mechanisms. This was recently confirmed again by the EU court of auditors in their <a href="http://publications.europa.eu/webpub/eca/special-reports/organic-food-4-2019/en/" target="_blank">Special Report No 4/2019</a>. Instead of turning the screws on the existing structure, instead of relying on paper-based certificates and instead of only re-acting to the problems we already have, we need to re-think our system and bring it forwards into today's modern world. The organic brand carries a promise which needs protection and prevention measures before fraud actually hits the headlines.</p><p><strong>TRACES does not go far enough</strong></p><p>One step in the right direction is the introduction of <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/traces_en" target="_blank">TRACES</a>, the European Commission’s multilingual data tool that aims at digitizing certification information for establishing oversight over organic imports to the EU. Exporters, importers and certifiers are working together to provide data for the electronic import certificate. However, the tool does not go far enough, as it obliges neither the certification bodies nor the producers to provide information on the certified acreage on which organic products have actually been grown and their yields. Without that information at hand, nobody can compare what enters the organic supply chain with what is being sold as labelled organic. Hence, it is impossible to get an idea of the extent of fraud that is already happening – and to fight it effectively. The only realistic solution to tackle food fraud – not only within the organic sector – is a mass balance that calculates whether or not the sold amounts of a product that carries a product claim (be it organic, fair-trade or elsewise) match the corresponding certified production capacities.</p><p><strong>A mass balance approach with real-time certification and transaction data is needed</strong></p><p>The cloud-based online platform <a href="https://www.check-organic.com/" target="_blank">Check Organic</a> can easily calculate the mass balance for commodities. Check Organic is a real-time source of global certification and product transaction data. Utilizing the information uploaded by participating companies, the platform maps the flow of goods and monitors the volumes of organic produce traded along the supply chain, checking the plausibility of produced vs. sold organic quantities. Whilst the products travel along the supply chain, Check Organic displays the operators’ certification status and the products’ integrity status via an intuitive traffic light system. This enables processors and traders to significantly mitigate fraud risks and ensures them that they are really selling what their labels promise. Time- and money-intensive retrospective backtracking of supplies is no longer required, and audit and inspection procedures are substantially eased. In order to accelerate and facilitate the process of globalization of the system, talks with the NOP of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Commission, and other governments are under way. But as long as none of these authorities oblige the certification bodies to provide information on acreage and hence of the production capacity for organically certified products, this level of transparency will only be shown by companies that already care about integrity, that care about the reputation of the organic brand. In the meantime, fraudsters will exploit every loophole they can find to continue their criminal activities and damage the reputation of the organic sector. Operations like OPSON VIII may unveil some of them, trigger some more scandalous headlines that will make consumers even more suspicious about the real value of organic products. In an attractive market like the organic one, a high level of transparency has to become mandatory.</p><p style="text-align:left;"> </p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><em>Do you want to learn more about Check Organic? Get in touch with us!</em></span><br /> <em>Gerald A. Herrmann (director Organic Services) / mobile: +49 177 5521 460 / g.herrmann@organic-services.com</em><br /> <em>Ina Hiester (communications manager Organic Services) / mobile: +49 176 2488 1755 / i.hiester@organic-services.com<br /> Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/4711018-4711018/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2122373">4711018</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2122373">Pixabay</a> </em></p></div>New EIM-Module-IRMS technology and isotopic concept for wine, fruit juices and honey authenticity determinationhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/new-eim-module-irms-technology-and-isotopic-concept-for-wine-frui2018-12-11T19:43:58.000Z2018-12-11T19:43:58.000ZIvan Smajlovichttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/IvanSmajlovic<div><p>Hi to everybody,</p><p>I would like to draw the attention of other members of the Food Authenticity network to what we are working on in our SG Isotech company. SGI has developed, patented and validated a new fast and accurate isotopic method for determining the botanical origin of sugar or ethanol. Our new EIM-Module -IRMS technology (Ethanol Isotope Measurement - Module - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry) is able to detect illegal manufacturing practices in wine production (detection of added sugar and/or water dilution), to determine the authenticity of fruit juices in the case of freshly squeezed fruit juices that are declared without added sugar or water in comparison to reconstructed fruit juices which are produced from juice concentrate with water dilution, as well as the detection of the presence of diverse sugar syrups in honey.</p><p>In addition, our new EIM-Module - IRMS concept gives a better differentiation of measured analyte - ethanol in comparison to NMR and therefore it can be used in most cases without the need of reference isotopic databases for sample comparison. Among other things, for honey authenticity testing EIM-Module-IRMS is the only technique which can give information about quantitative addition of Beet sugar invert syrup to honey.</p><p>Now, this new EIM-Module-IRMS technology opens the possibility for laboratories which already use IRMS equipment to give information on wine, fruit juices and honey authenticity which were until now possible to achieve only by means of very expensive NMR testing.</p><p>For more information, please jump to our website <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sgisotech.com">www.sgisotech.com</a> or you can contact me directly at ivan@sgisotech.com .</p><p>Cheers! :)</p><p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/326114549?profile=RESIZE_930x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/326114549?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710"/></a></p></div>Rapid Intervention Service - a New and Faster Food Crisis Management Servicehttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/rapid-intervention-service-a-new-and-faster-food-crisis-managemen2018-11-02T19:16:39.000Z2018-11-02T19:16:39.000ZJoana Gomeshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JoanaGomes<div><p>SwissDeCode has launched the Rapid Intervention Service, a new service that is able to identify the source of a food safety outbreak in one shift. This service brings a team of experts to companies going through a food safety crisis. They do a fast, precise and relevant audit to find the source of contamination, being able to detect the target DNA even after standard cleaning. The first results are provided in one shift, allowing the company to reduce losses. After the source is found, SwissDeCode’s experts will continue to work with the company to improve their monitoring strategy, by combining the SwissDeCode’s DNAFoil technology with their processes. Timings, relevance and efficiency are improved to minimize the risk of another outbreak in the future.</p><p><a href="https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/666024e1-69b3-495b-8f23-9d55aa457da1/SwissDeCode%20RIS%20press%20release%20EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to read the Press Release</a></p></div>New Test for The Rapid Detection of Counterfeit Cheesehttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/new-test-for-the-rapid-detection-of-counterfeit-cheese2018-06-27T14:51:57.000Z2018-06-27T14:51:57.000ZJoana Gomeshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/JoanaGomes<div><p>SwissDeCode, in partnership with Agroscope, has developed a new solution that is able to verify the autheticity of cheese, through the detection of proof-of-origin bacterial cultures. Although it has been developed and tested on different Swiss cheeses, the solution, which provides results in just one hour, can be also adapted to other types of cheeses.</p><p>Complete article in English <a href="https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/fe0d684e-50ab-4e83-a14c-97c31e73ea4e/Alimenta%20Magazine_New%20Test%20for%20The%20Rapid%20Detection%20of%20Counterfeit%20Cheese_Translation_EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE.</a></p></div>The rise and rise of fish oil supplements and the importance of getting it right.https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/the-rise-and-rise-of-fish-oil-supplements-and-the-importance-of-g2018-06-07T08:15:36.000Z2018-06-07T08:15:36.000ZSavvas Xystourishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SavvasXystouris<div><p class="outline">Fish oil supplements have grown in popularity in recent years due to their health benefits and it’s important that testing for fatty acids is consistently accurate to support percentage claims on labels and in product information.</p><p class="outline"> </p><p class="outline"> </p><p class="outline"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/34376525?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/34376525?profile=original" width="150"/></a></p><p class="outline">According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) “food supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet”. The number of substances other than vitamins and minerals used in food supplements in the European market is estimated to be over 400. Some of the most popular are fish oils, probiotics and herbal ingredients. </p><p class="outline">Fish oil supplements have grown in popularity in recent years due to their health benefits, leading to rapid expansion in the number of fish oil supplements available and their popularity amongst consumers.<br/>Several studies suggest that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA-omega-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA-omega-3) are beneficial to cardiovascular health. These fatty acids can be found in oily fish like salmon and sardines but also in fish oil supplements typically composed of cod liver oil. It is particularly important that the label claims for EPA and DHA are accurate, since a specific dosage may be required.<br/><em>Opperman</em> et al. (2011) tested 45 commercially available omega-3 supplements sold in South Africa, and found that 56% and 51% of the supplements failed to meet the lowest range of 89% for EPA and DHA concentrations stated on the label.</p><p class="outline">CODEX Alimentarius has recently (2017) issued a <a rel="nofollow" class="outline" href="http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/zh/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCODEX%2BSTAN%2B329-2017%252FCXS_329e.pdf">Standard for Fish oils</a> that applies to the fish oils that are presented in a state for human consumption. According to this standard, Cod liver oil is derived from the liver of wild cod, <em>Gadus morhua L</em>. and other species of <em>Gadidae</em> and the range of fatty acid composition (expressed as % of total fatty acids) should fall within the appropriate range stated in the standard.</p><p class="outline">With this LGC Proficiency Testing sample laboratories can also demonstrate their ability to directly measure the derivatisation and analysis of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in a 100% fat sample without the need to extract the fat from a complex matrix beforehand. </p><p class="outline">The new Sample 806, in the LGC QFCS food chemistry proficiency testing (PT) scheme is designed to support your quality testing for fatty acid determination in fish oil supplements.</p><p class="outline">This sample is available in our food chemistry proficiency testing scheme for the first time in round FC266 to be despatched 16th June 2018</p><p class="outline"> <a href="https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/806-Essential-composition-and-fatty-acids-breakdown-Fish-oil-supplement/p/PT-FC-806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fish oil supplements</a></p><p class="outline"><strong>References:</strong><br/>Opperman M, Marais DW and Spinnler Benade AJ, Analysis of omega-3 fatty acid content of South African fish oil supplements. Cardiovasc J Southern Afr 22:324–329 (2011).<br/>European Commission, Food supplements, <a rel="nofollow" class="outline" href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/supplements_en">https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/supplements_en</a> (accessed 1/5/18).</p></div>LGC Proficiency testing- Honey essential composition and quality factorshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/lgc-proficiency-testing-honey-essential-composition-and-quality-f2018-01-23T09:00:41.000Z2018-01-23T09:00:41.000ZSavvas Xystourishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SavvasXystouris<div><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/801-Honey-essential-composition-and-quality-factors/p/PT-FC-801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Honey essential composition and quality factors (in line with CODEX standard and EC Directive 2001/110)</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">QFCS Sample 801  can help establish or confirm the efficacy of this testing and ensure analytical methods are fit-for-purpose.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This sample is available in  <strong><a class="outline" href="https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/Proficiency-Testing/Food-and-feed-Schemes/Food-Chemistry-QFCS-/cat/244640" rel="nofollow">food chemistry proficiency testing scheme</a></strong> in round FC264 to be despatched 16 April 2018.</span></p>
</div>Product classification: Dairy Cheese or Analogue cheese?https://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/product-classification-dairy-cheese-or-analogue-cheese2017-09-21T09:56:12.000Z2017-09-21T09:56:12.000ZSavvas Xystourishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SavvasXystouris<div><div id="content" class="clearfix outline"><div class="content outline"><div class="container outline"><p><span class="font-size-5"><strong>Product classification: Dairy Cheese or Analogue cheese?</strong></span></p><p><span class="font-size-5"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/blog/pt/cheese_authenticity_and_quality" target="_blank">Cheese authenticity and quality</a></strong></span></p><div class="midContent postPage outline"><p class="detailImg outline"><img src="https://hybris-static-assets-production.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/sys-master/images/ha4/h3e/9445807456286/PT-cheeses.jpg"/></p><p class="outline"></p><p class="outline">By Savvas Xystouris, Technical/Development Manager, Proficiency Testing, LGC<br/> 19th September 2017</p><p class="outline">Consumers need to have access to safe and high quality food. Agri-food products of high commercial value such as dairy products, olive oil, honey, meat and fish have traditionally been the target of fraud. The prevention of fraud and promotion of authentic products is vital to ensure the commercial success of agricultural and food products on international markets and to protect consumer rights.<br/> <br/> In line with these concerns, the European Union (EU) established a system to grant food products with quality logos. The logos are “Protected Designation of origin” (PDO), “Protected Geographical origin” (PGI) or “Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)”. 232 cheese products are currently registered on Database of Origin and Registration (DOOR) Commission system of which 188 are granted with the strictest PDO quality logo from all over the EU. Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is a fresh soft cheese produced in 7 provinces in Italy from Campania buffalo milk under specific PDO rules and requirements, which can only be sold if pre-packaged at place of origin.<br/> <br/> During a UK Trading standards surveillance operation in 2016, 40 “mozzarella cheese” pizzas were purchased from takeaways across the UK. Five of them contained a “cheese” substitute known as “analogue cheese” instead of “100% mozzarella cheese” (as stated). Adulteration of cheese with a PDO grant damages the reputation of the product and erodes consumer confidence. <br/> <br/> Cheese “analogue” or imitation cheese is a non-dairy product of the food industry and was developed predominantly for vegan or vegetarian consumers as a “cost-effective” alternative.<br/> <br/> However, although visibly similar, imitation cheese is not chemically indistinguishable from dairy cheese and testing can distinguish whether imitation cheese has been used.</p><p class="outline"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.lgcstandards.com/GB/en/800-Authenticity-and-quality-Cheese/p/PT-FC-800" class="outline">Sample 800: Cheese authenticity and quality</a></strong> can help establish or confirm the efficacy of this testing and ensure analytical methods are fit-for-purpose.</p></div></div></div></div></div>PROFICIENCY TESTING- Food authenticityhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/proficiency-testing-food-authenticity2016-12-05T14:06:45.000Z2016-12-05T14:06:45.000ZSavvas Xystourishttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SavvasXystouris<div><p><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-6">What Proficiency testing materials would you consider as necessary in Food Authenticity testing field?</span></p></div>Reported fraud incidents - trends analysis over past 2 yearshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/new-services/reported-fraud-incidents-trends-analysis-over-past-2-years2016-11-16T17:12:04.000Z2016-11-16T17:12:04.000ZJohn Pointshttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/johnpoints<div><p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://johnpoints.com/home/case-studies/" target="_blank">Authenticity trends</a></p><p>This link is to a short paper on trends, derived from data in Fera's Horizonscan database. It remains the case that food fraud is no different from fraud in any other sphere: many incidents are straightforward forgeries of expiry dates, certificates of analysis, health certificates and other documentation. </p><p></p><p></p></div>