Authenticity Testing and Food Fraud Detection

• agave syrup, honey, maple syrup: detection of addition of sugar or other undeclared additives, mislabeling, geographical origin check
• basmati rice: quantification of the amount of basmati present in rice
• cereals: confirmation of variety; geographical origin check
• coffee, tea, spices, and herbal extracts: Differentiation Arabica vs Robusta, Coffee vs chicory, etc.; checking for natural or synthetic sources in tea, coffee, or guarana-containing drinks; geographical origin check
• dairy products: confirmation of the main feed used (grass or maize silage), detection of reconstitution, check flavorings (e.g. fruit, vanilla); geographical origin check
• fish: confirmation of species and of origin (wild farmed)
• flavors: checking whether a flavor is natural from X (vanilla, aniseed, bitter almond, cinnamon, linalool, etc.), natural, or synthetic
• fruit juice and derived products: detection of addition of sugar, water, colorings, aromas or other undeclared additives, determination of fruit content; geographical origin check
• meat products: confirmation of animal species DNA, test for animal proteins, verification of absence, differentiation of type.
• olive oil: quality testing, detection of impurities, purity testing, as well as contaminant testing
• spirits, beers: control of the botanical origin of the alcohol, detection of addition of water, sugars, or flavors (according to current regulations and/or product specifications)
• wines, ciders: detection of chaptalization, sugaring, dilution or addition of glycerol, checking the process used in sparkling products, conformity to the isotopic profile; geographical origin check

Need something tested that you don't see here?  Contact us about additional capabilities.

Agave Syrup

The use of Agave plants, Agave tequilana, and Agave salmiana, as a sugar source for the production of tequila and mescal alcoholic beverages, has been carried out for years.  However, due to its low glycemic index (GI), and the bad publicity that surrounds high fructose corn syrups (HFCS), these products have recently found another outlet as sugar substitutes.  As with all sugar-rich products, there is always a risk that they will be extended with sugars from a cheaper source.

Through our network of laboratories, Eurofins can utilize both Oligosaccharide profile by Capillary Gas Chromatography and Site-Specific Natural Isotope Fractionation-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SNIF-NMR) approaches to detect adulteration. Both of these are effective methods for identifying atypical profiles. 

Analysis of the Oligosaccharide profile by GC is relatively quick and can detect the addition of syrups derived from starch in addition to invert sugar.

The isotopic method provides an additional “high tech” approach to assess the product and will detect the presence of syrups that have been treated in such a way to remove the disaccharide marker peaks.

Work with our experts today to decide which approach is right for your product.

Fruit Juice

Our laboratories employ the latest analytical technologies that provide the robustness and sensitivity needed for the detection of adulterants in juice products.  Our technical expertise and market knowledge in various industries allow our clients to verify compliance with the latest regulations in each country and market, both for fruit juice concentrate and finished products.

In addition to our excellent chemical analyses, the Eurofins network of laboratories is capable of utilizing both SIRA (Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis) and a unique tool, SNIF-NMR (Site-Specific Natural Isotope Fractionation-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), both of which are effective methods for identifying atypical profiles. 

Need something tested that you don't see here?  Contact us about additional capabilities.

Your bottom line depends on top-of-the-line scientific testing to protect the integrity and preserve the identity of your finely crafted fats and oils products. Olive oil adulteration is one of the oldest, and most common, forms of food adulteration. Avocado oil has grown in popularity, and has come under scrutiny for containing other oils, or additives. Our ISO 17025 accredited laboratories have vast experience with commercial oils and fats.  

Below is a list of our capabilities: 

• Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC) and International Olive Council (IOC) quality testing including moisture, insoluble impurities, FFA, UV, extinction, DAG, PPP, and sensory.
• Leading OOCC and IOC purity testing including sterol composition, stigmastadienes, waxes, FAMES and FAEEs, ECN42, and tocopherols
• American Oil Chemist Society (AOCS) testing including quality and purity.
• Full contaminants testing including known pesticides, BPA, solvent residues, and phthalate compounds
• Polyphenols profile LC-MSMS (an exclusive Eurofins test)
• Specialized storage capability for olive oil
• Agility, innovation, customized service, and consistent, accurate results.  

Our Laboratory Is: 

• American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) chemistry and sensory approved.
• Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC), California Olive Oil Council (COOC), and American Olive Oil Producers Association (AOOPA) approved.

Contact us about your oil testing needs.

At our state-of-the-art laboratory, we use FDA-recommended DNA “barcoding” technology to confirm your product’s identity and compliance with labeling requirements.  Our experts help our customers know, unmistakably, that the premium fish fillet that they have is in fact that premium fish and not a lower-valued substitute.

Below is some of the testing we offer:                                                                                      

• Fish speciation/ID
• 4-hexylresorcinol       
• Added sulfites and phosphates                     
• Melamine and analogs
• Polyphosphates                                                                                                                               
• Preservative residues

Contact us to discuss your testing needs.

The Eurofins network of laboratories offers end-to-end food fraud mitigation services. Our suite of solutions includes:

• Consulting
• Implementation of mitigation plans
• Industry-leading authenticity testing
• Supply chain mapping
• Training

As a global leader in authenticity testing and food safety certification, we are a comprehensive resource when it comes to food fraud avoidance and mitigation.

What is Food Fraud?

Food Fraud is the deliberate and intentional substitution, addition, tampering, or misrepresentation of food, food ingredients, or mislabeling on food packaging for the seller's economic gain.

Food Fraud is increasingly widespread and results in billions in economic loss and long-term damage to brand reputation. It can also pose a serious threat to public health.  Click on the video below to learn more about Food Fraud.

Contact us today to discuss how we can assist you.

Our laboratory is accredited to international ISO 17025 standards and offers a full suite of testing to identify the meat species in your products.  In addition, we provide rapid turnaround times and scientific experts that work with customers to help answer questions about food fraud and provide solutions.  Many countries have imposed restrictions, and even outright bans, on the use of animal by-products and proteins in feed.

• In the U.S., FDA guidelines prohibit the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminant animals (CFR 589.2000).
• In China, regulations require that no ruminant DNA be present in poultry and fish meal.
• In Europe, even stricter regulations prohibit the presence of most animal proteins in feed. 

Companies producing Kosher and Halal products, including food and dietary supplements, may want to verify the absence of pork, shellfish, or other prohibited ingredients by appropriate testing as part of the quality control program.

Pet food is another area under high scrutiny for the meat products incorporated into their products.  Meat speciation testing can be used for verification of the protein sources in pet foods.

We offer:

• PCR tests for a wide variety of animal species DNA, such as cattle, pig, horse, and many others
• ELISA tests for animal proteins, such as ruminant species (cattle, sheep, goat)
• Rapid turnaround times, including same-day and next-day rush results
• Scientific experts to help answer your questions and provide solutions

Please contact us for assistance in determining which testing methods would work best for your company and product.

Most suppliers are honest and will supply you with what you ordered; however, not all are.

It is important to follow these suggestions:

• If possible, only use suppliers that you have visited and audited, or have been approved by a third party (such SGF IRMA scheme for fruit juices).  This should not preclude you from testing these suppliers also: verification.
• Everything has a price, and if the price is too good, there may be a very good reason why.
• All juices produced or imported into the US have to be prepared according to the principles made in the FDA Juice HACCP program.

More details about the FDA Juice HACCP program can be found here: http://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/ucm2006803.htm

With the introduction of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the conditions applied to juice manufacturers will now be applicable to other sections of the food industry.

More details about the Food Safety Modernization Act can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma