Eurofins Food & Feed Testing analytical offer for authenticity testing

Since 1987, we have been using our patented site-specific natural isotope fractionation studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR®) technology to help prevent food fraud, among other methods.

Our authenticity analyses are made-to-measure for each product and include both standard methods and specific tests, carefully selected to check for likely adulteration practices.

Eurofins Food & Feed Testing has in-depth expertise is in the use of isotopic techniques, including a method of reference in authentication: SNIF-NMR®. This is one of the most powerful techniques for detecting the adulteration of natural products.

Eurofins Food & Feed Testing also carries out molecular biology techniques and a large number of classic physical, chemical and biological methods: liquid or gas chromatography and spectroscopy (atomic absorption, ultraviolet) and has a very wide range of analytical tools to control product authenticity.

Fraud is becoming more and more sophisticated and increasingly difficult to detect by basic analyses since it is often designed to get around the tests in use. It is, therefore, necessary to leverage to advanced analytical techniques to detect non-compliant products. A considerable investment in research and development enables Eurofins Food & Feed Testing to apply the most suitable methods to each specific case when evaluating the authenticity of a product.

Eurofins Food & Feed Testing also offers the possibility of setting up a targeted analytical approach and specific data banks to help protect producers from fraudulent imitations of their products or false declarations of geographic origin, notably in the case of Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) certification.

Our particular expertise

• Fruit juice and derived products, honey, maple syrup: Detection of addition of sugar, water, colourings, aromas or other undeclared additives, determination of fruit content
• Wines, ciders: Detection of chaptalisation, sugaring, dilution or addition of glycerol, checking the process used in sparkling products, conformity to the isotopic profile
• Spirits, beers: Control of the botanical origin of the alcohol, detection of addition of water, sugars or flavours (according to current regulations and/or product specifications)
• Flavours: Checking whether a flavour is natural (vanilla, aniseed, bitter almond, cinnamon, linalool, etc.)
• Caffeine: Checking for natural or synthetic sources in tea, coffee or guarana-containing drinks
• Meat products: Confirmation of animal species
• Fish: confirmation of species and of origin (wild farmed)
• Dairy products: Confirmation of the main feed used (grass or maize silage), detection of the addition of lipids, lactose or casein, check flavourings (e.g. fruit, vanilla)
• Cereals: Confirmation of variety
• Basmati rice: Quantification of the amount of basmati present in rice

The Eurofins Food & Feed Testing advantage

• Competence centres with state-of-the-art equipment such as high-resolution gas chromatography (HR-GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems
• Fast turn-around time (TAT)
• Local contact with a global network
• Participation in industry associations and regulatory bodies allowing early intervention on potential food scares and legal obligations
• Expert advice testing schemes, on-site check for hygiene and allergens, labelling advice and traceability
• Results you can rely on
• International presence­