German researchers have developed a rapid method of authentication using a mini-mass spectrometer, ambient ionisation,and mass spectrometric data statistical analysis, which shows proof of principle and great promise for on-site real-time food authentication. The laboratory built system was tested on 3 milk types, 5 fish species and 2 coffee bean types. Analysis time to run samples and reference data sets was a matter of seconds, and 100% classification accuracy was achieved for the differentiation of milk types and fish species, and 96.4% was achieved for coffee types in cross-validation experiments. Measurement of two milk mixtures yielded correct classification of >94%.
Read the abstract at: Mini MS authentication
