Thermo Fisher selected for Food Integrity Project

Thermo Fisher Scientific has been selected as a partner of INTELLItrace Work Package (WP) 18, part of the European Food Integrity Project (EFIP) developing a validation of untargeted methods to assure the quality, authenticity and safety of the food chain. Announced at the Food Integrity 2017 Conference in Parma, Italy, the cost of food fraud to the global food industry is $10–15 billion annually and as food supply chains become more globalised the problem is likely to increase.

Using the Thermo Scientific Q Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer, an LC-MS/MS system that combines quadruple precursor ion selection with high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) Orbitrap detection, Thermo Fisher will provide data needed for precise food tracking and authenticity. The data will assist other project partners, such as Mérieux Nutrisciences, to apply their analytical and statistical knowledge to the identification of known and unknown adulterants in food. This will aid the development of enhanced early warning capabilities, as well as established methods and systems to ensure the integrity of the global food chain and meet the evolving regulatory demands of the industry.

The INTELLItrace WP 18 will focus on improving the detection of adulterated products, such as honey, wine, meat, fish, olive oil and coffee. The expected outcome of WP 18 will be the delivery of guidelines dedicated to the validation of non-targeted approaches applied to food authenticity and traceability.

“It is through participation in collaborative projects like the (EFIP) that we have the opportunity to address industry challenges and further develop our analytical tools and methods used to ensure consumers have access to safe food and beverages,” said Dr Khalil Divan, senior director, global food and beverage market, Thermo Fisher.