Title |
Through-container, extremely low concentration detection of multiple chemical markers of counterfeit alcohol using a handheld SORS device
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Published in |
Scientific Reports, September 2017
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DOI | 10.1038/s41598-017-12263-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
David I. Ellis, Rebecca Eccles, Yun Xu, Julia Griffen, Howbeer Muhamadali, Pavel Matousek, Ian Goodall, Royston Goodacre |
Abstract |
Major food adulteration incidents occur with alarming frequency and are episodic, with the latest incident, involving the adulteration of meat from 21 producers in Brazil supplied to 60 other countries, reinforcing this view. Food fraud and counterfeiting involves all types of foods, feed, beverages, and packaging, with the potential for serious health, as well as significant economic and social impacts. In the spirit drinks sector, counterfeiters often 'recycle' used genuine packaging, or employ good quality simulants. To prove that suspect products are non-authentic ideally requires accurate, sensitive, analysis of the complex chemical composition while still in its packaging. This has yet to be achieved. Here, we have developed handheld spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) for the first time in a food or beverage product, and demonstrate the potential for rapid in situ through-container analysis; achieving unequivocal detection of multiple chemical markers known for their use in the adulteration and counterfeiting of Scotch whisky, and other spirit drinks. We demonstrate that it is possible to detect a total of 10 denaturants/additives in extremely low concentrations without any contact with the sample; discriminate between and within multiple well-known Scotch whisky brands, and detect methanol concentrations well below the maximum human tolerable level. |
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United States | 4 | 5% |
India | 3 | 4% |
Spain | 2 | 3% |
Belgium | 1 | 1% |
Germany | 1 | 1% |
Mexico | 1 | 1% |
Sweden | 1 | 1% |
Peru | 1 | 1% |
Other | 8 | 10% |
Unknown | 30 | 38% |
Demographic breakdown
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Members of the public | 55 | 71% |
Scientists | 19 | 24% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 3 | 4% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 1% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 98 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 15 | 15% |
Researcher | 14 | 14% |
Student > Bachelor | 12 | 12% |
Lecturer | 9 | 9% |
Student > Master | 8 | 8% |
Other | 14 | 14% |
Unknown | 26 | 27% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Chemistry | 23 | 23% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 12 | 12% |
Physics and Astronomy | 5 | 5% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 3% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 3 | 3% |
Other | 18 | 18% |
Unknown | 34 | 35% |