Abstract
Information on the geographic origin of milk is important in determining quality attributes and for economic gain through building brand value associated with origin. Stable isotope signatures and trace element concentrations have been increasingly used in authentication of milk, though information on the power of such technology in verifying agroclimatic origin in small continents with diverse climatic, environmental conditions, and animal management practice is scarce. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using a stable isotope composition of C, N, O, and H and element fingerprints to determine the agroclimatic origin of milk produced in different agroclimatic zones of Sri Lanka. Stable isotopes ratios of C, N, H, and O, and elemental fingerprints of milk samples were determined by IRMS and ICP-MS, respectively. Significant variations were observed in stable isotope ratios, especially δ18O and the mean content of Li, Al, Cr, Mn, and Sr in the bulk milk samples obtained from different agroclimatic zones. A linear discriminant analysis differentiated cow milk produced from four agroclimatic zones based on stable isotope ratios, and the inclusion of elemental ratios enhanced the discriminating ability.
Highlights
Authentication of geographical origin is a rapidly emerging topic in food safety, quality, traceability, and consumer protection
Stable isotope ratios of 142 milk samples collected from four different agroclimatic zones of Sri Lanka varied from −15.5 to −28.0‰ for δ13C, 11.6 to 3.3‰ for δ15N, −48 to −155‰ for δ2H, and 26.0 to 16.7‰ for δ18O
This study has demonstrated the ability of stable carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen isotope ratios, and multi-element analysis of cow milk to verify the agroclimatic origin of milk in a small tropical island with a diverse climate, environmental conditions, and cattle management practices
Summary
Authentication of geographical origin is a rapidly emerging topic in food safety, quality, traceability, and consumer protection. Tools to validate the geographic origin of food including milk are extremely valuable, as the origin is often associated with quality attributes, for instance, free from disease and pollution. Various analytical techniques, including liquid and gas chromatography, isotope ratio and elemental analyses, spectroscopy, DNA, and sensor techniques, have been widely used to authenticate the geographical origin of various foodstuffs [2]. Among these techniques, trace element concentrations and stable isotope signatures have been increasingly applied in authentication studies, since their chemical patterns have a direct causal relationship to geographical factors, such as the environment in which the products were grown and/or processed. Stable isotope signatures mainly depend on climatic or geographical conditions, while the elemental composition is primarily affected by geological and pedological
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