Applications for botanical authenticity testing

• Confirm that declared plant species or varieties on product labels are accurate
• Detect substitution with undeclared or lower-value plant material
• Support compliance with current regulation and labelling standards for plant products
• Monitor authenticity across retail, wholesale, food service, and import channels

Key methods

We test single-ingredient products and complex blends. This encompasses pure spices such as oregano or black pepper, as well as mixed seasonings such as curry or masala, and fruit and vegetable ingredients in composite foods. We use:

• DNA-based methods, like RT-PCR, qPCR or Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS) linked to Molecular Biology Testing 
• NMR profiling by comparing data with our own and officially available databases
• Microscopy of pure and mixed plant products 
• Advanced techniques (GC/LC-HRMS) and targeted methods for single compounds characteristic of specific botanicals
• European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) methods delivered in partnership with Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing companies