Stable and radiogenic isotopes as indicators of agri-food provenance: Insights from artisanal cheeses from Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Stable (H,O,N,C) and radiogenic isotope (Sr) data for cheese, milk, animal feed and soil from six artisanal cheese producers in Quebec, Canada, demonstrated the potential of isotope geochemistry in linking land/terroir to agricultural produce. The hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions of the water, milk and cheese samples showed good general alignment with the Global Meteoric Water Line, with small off-sets in the milk and cheese samples related to cheese production. Carbon and nitrogen isotope data for the cheese and milk reflect the diet of the cattle and fertilization of the cattle grazing pastures. The strontium isotope compositions of the soils, milk and cheese are similar for a given farm/cheese producer, but vary widely between producers due to differences in geology. Combining the climate-sensitive δ18O and geology-sensitive 87Sr/86Sr proxies shows potential for discriminating between Quebec artisanal cheeses, commercial Canadian cheeses and European cheeses.