Aprofood is an expert in the field of food testing. We have mastered advanced analytical techniques such as molecular biology, chromatography, spectroscopy, and immunology to identify food adulteration and provide a basis for informed choices for consumers and our clients in the food industry.

Food Fraud

If the contents of a food product do not match its original state or the labeled information, it is considered fraudulent. Food authenticity refers to the accurate representation of a product's origin, ingredients, and production methods. This involves preventing:

• Mislabeling
• Adulteration (replacing high-value components with low-quality substitutes)
• Contamination (adding non-similar substances, e.g., Sudan Red in chili powder)
• Extraction (removing high-value components and selling the remainder as a complete product)
• False claims about nutritional value or sustainability

Authenticity testing ensures that products comply with declared specifications, thereby upholding market integrity and protecting consumer rights.

Fig 1. Cases of food fraud in Italy and related circumstances. (Previti A, et al., 2022)

Our Service

Aprofood's food authenticity testing services include the use of targeted and non-targeted methods to verify the composition, purity, geographical origin, and production process of food, to identify whether it conforms to its claims in terms of quality, function, and characteristics.

Meat Product Authenticity and Adulteration Testing

Identification of meat species ensures the absence of unreported or lower-value meats in raw materials and processed products. Targeted species include beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, and horse meat.

Milk & Dairy Product Adulteration Testing

We can detect the adulterants in milk, sheep milk, goat milk and their products, including water, milk from other species, plant proteins, whey and melamine, etc.

Fish & Seafood Product Authentication Testing

We can amplify the mitochondrial COI gene fragment by PCR to detect the DNA of up to 100 species of fish, shrimp, crab and shellfish, identify the species and detect adulteration.

Cereal Grains Product Authentication Testing

Quickly analyze the content of moisture, protein and other components in grains to identify the origin of the grains, and detect the authenticity of basmati rice.

Oil Product Authentication Testing

We can conduct tests such as fatty acid composition identification, docosahexaenoic acid characteristic peak detection, and isotope analysis on oil products like olive oil, evening primrose oil, walnut oil, and almond oil, in order to identify low-grade substitutes and adulteration.

Coffee, Tea and Plant Extracts Authentication Testing

Detect species such as Arabica coffee, Robusta coffee, tea plants, and other plant varieties through DNA technology, and analyze components in samples (e.g., flavor substances in coffee, polyphenols in tea, polysaccharides in astragalus) to determine geographical origin.

Spice Authentication Testing

Identify spice species (e.g., vanilla, fennel, bitter almond, cinnamon) and analyze whether products are derived from natural ingredients or chemical synthesis (e.g., linalool).

Detection Techniques

ELISA, metabolomics, spectroscopy, qualitative PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), mitochondrial DNA sequencing, next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Aprofood employs the most advanced equipment and reliable methods, enabling it to accurately identify the authenticity of a wide variety of foods, even those that have undergone high levels of processing. We can use multiple approaches to address different issues and support the detection of food adulteration at extremely low threshold levels. For more information on our services or to discuss your project needs, please feel free to contact us.

Reference:

1. Previti A, et al. The "Hygiene Package": Analysis of Fraud Rates in Italy in the Period before and after Its Entry into Force. Foods. 2022, 11(9):1244.

• Food Nutritional Analysis Service
• Food Additives Testing
• Food Bioactive Compound Analysis
• Food Allergens Testing
• Food Contaminants Testing
• Food Rancidity Testing
• Food GMO Testing
• Food Microbiological Testing
• Food Shelf-Life Testing
• Food Sensory Analysis