Application of stable isotopes and mineral elements fingerprinting for beef traceability and authenticity in inner...

In recent years, the origin and safety of counterfeit meat products have raised significant concerns among consumers. Therefore, there was an urgent need to develop a new method using fingerprinting techniques for meat product traceability. This study aimed to evaluate the traceability and authenticity of beef from Inner Mongolia by measuring the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values, as well as 13 mineral elements. In the complex environment of feeding regimes and agricultural types, δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, and Se were selected as characteristic variables to differentiate feeding regimes, while Fe, K, Tl, Sr, Mn, and δ¹³C were chosen as characteristic variables for tracing the origin of the beef. Linear discriminant analysis achieved an accuracy rate of up to 100 %. This research confirmed the effectiveness of combining stable isotopes with mineral elements in accurately determining the origin of Inner Mongolian beef and verifying the authenticity of typical feed, providing a valuable strategy for traceability.