areas of work

Use of multi-element / multi-component stable isotope analysis, in particular isotope ratio mass spectrometry (stable isotope analysis) and deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to determine the origin and authenticity of food, especially for

 

• Beverages (e.g. fruit juice, wine, beer, liquors)
• Plant-based foods (e.g. fruits, vegetables, oils)
• Animal foods (e.g. milk, dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, honey)
• flavorings, Flavors

Current topics

 

• Standardization, interlaboratory tests on methods of measurement and sample preparation for stable stable isotope analysis analysis and assessment of vanillin and vanilla flavors
• Calibration of stable isotope ratio measurements with reference standards
• Apple Juice Database
• Cooperation with the § 64 AG 'IRMS' in the creation of a general method for oxygen measurement of liquids with equilibration IRMS -

Position and policy papers

Position papers

 

• Verification of the authenticity of vanilla flavours (2023) ( pdf )
• Isolation of the protein fraction from milk for analysis of stable isotope ratios (2020) ( pdf )
• Intra and inter laboratory reference materials for multi element stable isotope analysis in food authentication (2018) ( pdf )
• Possibilities and limitations of oxygen isotope analysis of water in determining the origin of food (2009) ( pdf )
• Tasks and possibilities of isotope ratio analysis in the origin and authenticity investigation of meat (2007) ( pdf )
• Position paper: Possibilities for distinguishing between foods from conventional and organic production using isotope ratio analysis (2005) ( pdf )

Basic paper

Basic paper of the Working Group Flavorings and the Working Group Stable Isotope Analysis: Vanilla flavors origin, analysis and characterization of vanilla components (2022) ( pdf ) Correction note (2022) ( pdf )
Origin and authenticity of vanilla flavours (of the LChG working groups "flavorings" and "stable isotope analysis") (2010) - no longer current

Interesting links

 

• Natural flavors - 100% natural? The example of vanilla
• 25 Years authentication of wine with stable isotope analysis in the European Union - Review and outlook
• "On the trail of nature with IRMS"