GovWire

Consumers need to have access to food that is safe, nutritious and is what the label says it is. Food fraud, including economically motivated adulteration, presents a challenge to ensuring food authenticity. This is particularly an issue with foods of high economic value such as coffee, one of the most commercialised and widely consumed beverages in the world.

Isotope ratio analysis is a valuable tool that can be used for food authenticity testing. Government Chemist scientists at theNational Measurement Laboratoryat LGC have published their research work in collaboration with theBritish Coffee Association, on the effect of roasting on theboron isotopic composition of coffee beans.

Boron (11) isotope values of green and roasted coffee beans from 20 locations worldwide were studied with the aim to investigateboron isotopefractionation during roasting.

The study showed that boron isotopic composition of roasted coffeecanbe used as a marker of regional differences in coffee origin.

Access paper:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138128

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