To date the stable isotope ratios of berries have never been extensively explored. In this work the H, C, N and O isotopic ratios of 190 samples of different soft fruits (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and currants) produced in a northern Italian region and at two sites in Romania and Poland collected over three harvest years are presented and discussed.The different soft fruits showed a typical range for one or more isotopic parameters that can be used to verify the authenticity of the fruit composition declared on the label. The δ13C and δ15N of pulp and the δ18O of juice can be considered effective tools for identifying the different geographical origin of fruit. A significant effect of crop cover on juice δ18O and fertilisation practices on pulp δ15N was demonstrated and must be considered with attention when evaluating data.

Food forensics is a multi-disciplinary science involving advanced analytical techniques, plant and animal metabolism, and sophisticated data interpretation tools. This book explains how plants, and in turn animals eating those plants, assimilate stable isotopes and trace elements from their environments. It provides extensive reviews of the use of stable isotope and trace element measurements for the authentication of major food groups and how these can be used to detect fraudsters. The book emphasises the use of correct methods for sample preparation and measurement so that data can be compared to existing datasets, with a dedicated chapter discussing interpretations.

This study aimed to verify the authenticity and geographical origin of pumpkin seed oil using chemical analysis by gas chromatography (GC) and isotopic characterisation by gas chromatography combustion stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) combined with chemometric analysis. Thirty-eight pumpkin seed samples from various parts of the world were collected and authentic oils were prepared. Pumpkin seed oils are highly unsaturated, oleic acid varies from 26.8 to 43.6% and the content of linoleic acid is between 37.2 and 54.9%. The average δ13C values of the main fatty acids are −29.2±1.2‰, −30.3±1.6‰, −27.9±1.7‰ and −28.1±1.7‰ for C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, respectively. To determine adulteration, rapeseed, sunflower and soybean oil, were added to pumpkin seed oil in varying percentages (1–10%). A 100% correct classification of both geographical and botanical origin was achieved based on the composition and δ13C values of fatty acids. Principal component analysis (PCA) and regularised discriminant analysis (RDA) analysis gave comparable results.

This study examined the applicability of stable isotope and multi-element data for determining the geographical origin of fresh apple juices. Samples included three apple cultivars (Idared, Golden Delicious and Topaz) harvested in 2011 and 2012 from five different geographical regions of Slovenia. Regional discrimination of the juice samples was most successful when using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and taking into account the following parameters: δ2H and δ18O content of juice water; δ15N and δ13C content of the pulp, (D/H)I and (D/H)II in ethanol and the concentration of S, Cl, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr. Overall prediction ability was 83.9%. The factors that best distinguished the different types of cultivar were the δ2H and δ18O content of fruit juice water; the δ13C and (D/H)I content of ethanol; and the concentration of S, Mg, K, Cu, and Ti. Prediction ability, taking into account all ten parameters, was 75.8%.

We have determined the isotopic composition and the carotenoid contents of 38 extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) from seven regions along the Italian coasts, by means of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and resonant Raman spectroscopy (RRS), respectively. The application of linear discriminant analysis to our overall results demonstrated the combination of isotope and carotenoid data is a promising method to discriminate EVOOs from production sites that are impacted by similar geographical and climatic parameters. In particular, this dual approach allowed correct classification of 82% EVOO samples, while separate IRMS and RRS investigations were able to discriminate only samples from Sicily and Latium, respectively.