China Food Safety: Stable Isotopes Analysis to Be Launched for Food Authenticity

Food adulteration has become a universal problem in China. In fact, fake geographic origins or adulterations are commonplace in China, and this problem is perceived by policymakers and public alike as the weakest area in China’s food supply chain.

To ensure food safety in the context of increasing cross border trade, food authenticity testing has been elevated to a position of great importance. The most cutting-edge technology at present is stable isotopes analysis, the application of which will enable consumers to unequivocally establish food authenticity and food traceability.  The ratios of isotopes, known as isotopic signatures (nature’s fingerprints) will be affected by the particular environment where a particular material grows, and will allow scientists to differentiate samples from different regions by comparing the ratio of isotopes of a food testing sample to that of a standard sample.

The key to successful stable isotopes analysis is a large database storing diversified standard samples from all over the world. To build such a database global cooperation is an essential step. China’s poor food safety record is due to an environment where adulteration and counterfeit geographic indications are common in products circulating in the marketplace. To remedy this situation, CTI (which is the parent company of REACH24H) is collaborating with the UK based isotope lab Food Forensics. With technical supports from Food Forensics which has long-term experiences in developing food isotopes analysis, CTI will start collecting foodsamples worldwide so as to eventually build its own database of isotopic signatures.

CTI food stable isotopes testing lab is expected to be officially launched this October and will provide food safety testing from December this year.