Origin discrimination of defatted pork via trace elements profiling, stable isotope ratios analysis, and multivariate...

Area of Science:

• Food science
• Analytical chemistry
• Geochemistry

Background:

• Authenticating the geographical origin of food products like pork is crucial for consumer trust and regulatory compliance.
• Variations in trace element composition and stable isotope ratios can reflect differences in animal diet, environment, and farming practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a method for verifying the origin of defatted pork samples.
• To differentiate between Korean and non-Korean pork using trace element and stable isotope analyses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 346 defatted Korean and non-Korean pork samples.
• Profiling of multiple trace elements (e.g., V, Cr, As, Rb, Sr, Li, Co, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cs) using mass spectrometry.
• Determination of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotope ratios.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in the content of specific trace elements (V, Cr, As, Rb, Sr) were observed in Korean pork compared to non-Korean pork.
• Higher concentrations of certain elements (Li, Co, Mn, Ni, Sr, Cd, Cs) were found in non-Korean pork samples.
• Discriminant analysis, utilizing both trace element profiles and stable isotope ratios, achieved a perfect 100% accuracy in classifying pork origin.

Conclusions:

• Trace element profiling and stable isotope ratio analysis are highly effective and reliable methods for authenticating pork origin.
• The established analytical approach provides a robust tool for distinguishing pork based on geographical provenance.