LGC scientists invited to contribute to Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) publication

Based on the recent work performed under the UK’s Government Chemist programme on DNA approaches for herbs and spices testing, Malcolm Burns, Principal Scientist for Food Analysis, was invited to contribute to the latest Gafta publication.

The article, released in the December edition of GaftaWorld, covers our leading government research in developing and validating methods and approaches for food authenticity, adulteration, quality and safety testing.

It firstly describes two recent high profile referee cases involving the suspected unlabelled presence of almond in cumin and paprika samples and the novel DNA approaches developed at LGC to definitively determine the identity of the adulterant.

Additionally, the article describes recent pioneering work using hyper- and multispectral imaging applications for food authenticity and adulteration testing, with a Defra funded project involving durum wheat as a case study. This approach has significant future potential for use in the food and feed testing sector as it is both rapid (~20 s per sample) and inexpensive (less than 1 GBP for multiple samples). LGC continues to take a leading role in the validation of this promising technology.

The Gafta newsletter has a global circulation amongst senior members of the agri-produce community from corporates to policy makers.

For further information about multispectral imaging screening applications please contact Measurement Services