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Investigating isotopic markers for hazelnut geographical authentication: Promising variables and potential
B Torres-Cobos1, M Rosell2, A Soler2
1Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l'Alimentació i Gastronomia, Universitat de Barcelona. Av Prat de La Riba, 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain; Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona. Av Prat de La Riba, 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain.
Stable isotope analysis can authenticate hazelnut origins, preventing fraud. Combining multiple isotopic markers (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, 87Sr/86Sr) with chemometrics achieved 92.5% accuracy in identifying hazelnut provenance.
Area of Science:
- Food science
- Analytical chemistry
- Agricultural science
Background:
- Hazelnut origin influences quality and price, increasing fraud risk.
- Geographical authentication of food products is crucial for consumer trust and fair trade.
- Stable isotope analysis is a proven method for food origin determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of stable isotope analysis for hazelnut geographical authentication.
- To identify the most effective isotopic markers and chemometric tools for hazelnut origin discrimination.
- To develop a reliable method for preventing hazelnut provenance fraud.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of multiple stable isotope ratios (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, 87Sr/86Sr) in hazelnuts from various origins.
- Utilizing chemometric tools, specifically Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), for data analysis.
- Employing leave-10%-out cross-validation to assess model accuracy.
Main Results:
- Bulk δ18O, δ2H, and δ13C in fatty acid methyl esters showed significant potential for geographical discrimination.
- 87Sr/86Sr analysis proved effective as a confirmatory tool.
- A multi-isotopic approach using PLS-DA models achieved up to 92.5% accuracy in identifying hazelnut origins.
Conclusions:
- A multi-isotopic approach, combining stable isotope analysis with chemometrics, is a promising strategy for authenticating hazelnut geographical origin.
- No single isotopic marker is sufficient for comprehensive authentication; a combined approach is necessary.
- These findings provide a foundation for developing robust hazelnut authentication models.
