Is ‘made in Australia’ food really made in Australia? | 7.30

Key Concepts

• X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy: A non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials.
• Elemental Fingerprinting: The unique combination of elements present in a food item, which can vary based on its origin and diet.
• Food Fraud: Deception regarding the quality, content, or source of origin of food for financial gain.
• Database: A crucial component for the XRF analysis, containing elemental profiles of known authentic food samples from specific origins.
• Australian Tiger Prawns: A specific example of a food product being tested for authenticity.
• Kakadu Plum Powder: Another example of a native Australian bush food susceptible to fraudulent claims.
• Ansto Food Prominence Team: The research group utilizing XRF technology for food authenticity.
• Sydney Fish Market: A partner providing authentic prawn samples for the database.
• International Collaboration: Working with countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the Philippines to expand the database for other food products.

XRF Technology for Food Authenticity

The video details the application of a portable handheld X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) machine, typically used in mining or jewelry authentication, for determining the elemental composition of food. This technology has been repurposed by the Ansto Food Prominence team to combat food fraud. The core principle is that the "elemental fingerprint" of a food item, reflecting its diet and environment, varies based on its geographical origin. This accumulated elemental composition can then be analyzed by a mathematical model to identify variances and determine authenticity.

Process:

1. The prawn is placed directly onto the XRF machine.
2. The machine measures the elemental composition in real-time, providing live results.
3. The process is non-destructive, meaning the food item can be consumed afterward (though not practiced by the researchers).

Combating Food Fraud

Food fraud is defined as deceiving customers about a product's quality, content, or source of origin for financial gain. The XRF technology offers a sophisticated method to identify such deception, particularly in complex areas like determining the source of origin.

Example: Kakadu Plum Powder

• Kakadu plum is an iconic Australian native bush food known for its high Vitamin C content.
• Many products marketed as Kakadu plum powder, especially those purchased online from overseas, have been found to be fake.
• The Ansto team tested online-purchased powders against genuine samples collected from authentic sources.
• The results revealed that the online-purchased powders, despite being claimed as genuine, were indeed fake.

The Importance of the Database

The success of this authenticity testing hinges on a robust database. This database serves as the backbone of the project, enabling predictions with certainty. It requires samples from known authentic sources.

Database Development:

• Partnerships: The Sydney Fish Market has been a key partner, providing over a thousand authentic tiger prawn samples.
• Expansion: The team is collaborating with countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the Philippines to expand the database.
• New Products: They are also looking to include other food products of interest in these regions, such as turmeric, mangoes, and rice.

Case Study: Australian Tiger Prawns

The video demonstrates the application of the technology to Australian tiger prawns.

Findings:

• Samples from "Worth and Coohl's" were analyzed and found to be "more than likely to be of Australian farmed origin."
• Tiger prawns purchased from a "random seafood shop" were less conclusive. While still "most likely of Australian farmed origin," the confidence level was lower because these samples fell outside the established database.

Limitations and Future Vision:

• The current limitation is the size and scope of the database. The team acknowledges that while the technology is proven to work, the database needs continuous refinement and expansion.
• The ultimate hope is for a future where consumers can use their smartphones to scan a barcode on any product and instantly access information about its origin and composition.

Conclusion

The XRF technology, coupled with a comprehensive and continuously refined database, offers a powerful tool to combat food fraud by verifying the origin and elemental composition of food products. While current limitations exist in database size, ongoing international collaborations and technological development aim to make this system more robust and accessible, potentially leading to a future where consumers have complete transparency about their food's provenance.