Collaborative project: Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) to determine geographical Origin and Authenticity of market relevant Spices and Herbs, Subproject 1

Project

Project code: 2816502014
Contract period: 01.04.2016 - 31.03.2019
Budget: 669,865 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development

The appreciation and price of foods, in particular spices and herbs, are generally tied to their authenticity and origin. This is mainly due to the fact that special quality features, like flavor and appearance, are directly linked to the origin of the spices. Due to increasing difficulties in the supply of the worldwide spice market, the prices of primary products have increased dramatically. Therefore, the problem of product counterfeiting has increased. The whole value chain suffers due to the fact that the origin of species is not trackable. Hence, the aim of this research project is to develop a new analytical method, in order to determine the geographical origin and authenticity of market relevant spices. This will be achieved by using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) that for the first time provides the possibility to prove the geographical origin and quality of species with a fast, cost-effective and high reproducible method and hence to be able to identify product counterfeiting. In this project the Bruker BioSpin GmbH develops a new method, which is based on NMR-analytics. With this method the geographical origin and the authenticity of spices can be uniquely detected with a high reproducibility. The Arotop food & environment GmbH develops a method to reproducibly prepare the necessary samples for the different spices. Additionally, the required reference samples are gathered. Risks in the development are that for the first time solid food materials are analyzed and not liquids (e.g. vine). Hence, it has to be studied which are the relevant ingredients and how they can be extracted to get a unique analytical fingerprint.

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