Working group stable isotope analysis

Use of multielement/multicomponent stable isotope analysis, in particular isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), to determine the origin and authenticity of foodstuffs, in particular for

• Beverages (e.g. fruit juice, wine, beer, liquors)
• Plant-based foodstuffs (e.g. fruit, vegetables, oils)
• Animal-based foodstuffs (e.g. milk, dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, honey)
• flavorings, flavourings

• Standardisation, interlaboratory comparison studies on methods for measurement and sample preparation for stable isotope analysis and assessment of vanillin and vanilla flavourings
• Calibration of stable isotope ratio measurements using reference standards
• Database for apple juice
• Cooperation with the § 64 AG ‘IRMS’ in the development of a general method for measuring oxygen in liquids using equilibration IRMS -

• food chemistry 2026 - Stable for 25 years

Position papers

• Verification of the authenticity of vanilla flavourings (2023) (pdf)
• Isolation of the protein fraction from milk for the analysis of stable isotope ratios (2020) (pdf)
• Intra and inter laboratory reference materials for multi element stable isotope analysis in food authentication (2018) (pdf)
• Possibilities and limitations of oxygen isotope analysis of water for determining the origin of foodstuffs (2009) (pdf)
• Tasks and possibilities of isotope ratio analysis in the origin and authenticity testing of meat (2007) (pdf)
• Position paper: Possibilities for distinguishing between foodstuffs from conventional and organic production using isotope ratio analysis (2005) (pdf)

Background paper

Background paper by the Working Group Flavorings and the Working Group Stable Isotope Analysis: Vanilla flavourings – origin, analysis and characterisation of the vanilla constituents (2022) (pdf) Correction notice (2022) (pdf)
Origin and authenticity of vanilla flavourings (by the LChG working groups "Flavorings" and "stable isotope analysis") (2010) - no longer up to date

• Natural flavourings – 100% natural? The example of vanilla
• 25 Years authentication of wine with stable isotope analysis in the European Union – Review and outlook
• “Tracing nature with IRMS”