Oxford Instruments targets meat fraud

By Joseph James Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Nutrition

Oxford Instruments and IFR tackle fraud
Oxford Instruments and IFR tackle fraud
Oxford Instruments is working with a UK research laboratory on preventing meat fraud, such as the horsemeat scandal.

The firms’ benchtop instrument claims to make nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy available for routine testing.

Pulsar assesses suspected edible oil contamination, adulteration and meat speciation. It costs up to £50k and is available worldwide.

The Institute of Food Research (IFR) is developing analysis software in the fight against food fraud.

NMR simplified

NMR had been too expensive and technically complicated for industrial settings, said the firm but fatty acid component of triglycerides found in animal tissue are known to differ between species.

Research has got to the stage where it can differentiate between whole cuts or chunks of beef, lamb, pork and horse.

Further development work will extend the methodology to the detection of small amounts of minced meat in the presence of another meat.

Dr David Williamson, applications group leader, said NMR made the process simple to carry out, quicker and cheaper than the different other technologies.

He told FoodQualityNews.com that because it is based on fat profile it can be used on edible oils.

“It is different to other technologies and it depends on which one you compare it to, but it takes a measurement in minutes compared to DNA which may be done overnight or can take days.

“We are looking for take up as a screening method, firms need to have confidence in the meat that they are receiving from their suppliers is what they expect.

“It is for consumer confidence, safe meat eating or edible oil, that what you are getting is what is mentioned on the label.”

Sample speed

Dozens of samples could be analysed per day, taking 10 – 15 minutes per test, at less than £20 per sample.

Oxford Instruments and IFR partnered more than a year ago as the firm identified it needed help to analyse data and simplified instruments for automated analysis.

“Oxford Instruments produce the machinery but it is critical to have the IFR partnership. It is a really good example of ongoing industry and research working together,” ​said Williamson.   

The aim is to keep it affordable for local authority funded and privately owned analyst laboratories, and suppliers up the food chain, such as beyond farm gate testing.

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