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Authenticating the Biobased Content of Flavors and Fragrances

Ingredient adulteration and mislabeling of flavors and fragrances are often due to consumer demand for naturally sourced ingredients, the relatively high prices for these commodities, and the often limited availability of plant material. In a recent article, Beta Analytic Marketing Specialist Haley Gershon describes how carbon-14 testing provides reassurance that ingredient origin of flavors and fragrances are truly “natural.”

fragrance oils

Several programs and regulations such as the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) and Flavouring Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 recognize carbon-14 analysis as a method for distinguishing biobased sourced content from petroleum-derived material.

Biomass-based ingredients contain a known level of carbon-14 while petrochemical-derived synthetics do not contain any carbon-14, thus allowing the analysis to determine a product’s percent biobased content depending on the amount of carbon-14 present.

Thus, carbon-14 testing has become a useful tool for counterfeit detection, ingredient authentication and validation of naturally sourced claims.

For more information, please read the article Naturally Sourced F&F Ingredients: Regulations and Verification Through Carbon-14, published in the Perfumer & Flavorist’s Digital Magazine exclusive.

Beta Analytic’s Rapid Flavors & Fragrances Testing Services

Miami-based ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic provides professional biobased content testing of flavors and fragrances by carbon-14 analysis. The lab also has a faster service available.

For turnaround time or price inquiries, please contact the lab using this form or call (+1) 305-662-7760.

Image credit: Pixabay


This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 4th, 2019 and is filed under Flavor & Fragrance, Flavors Carbon-14 Analysis .