In 2023, Source Certain led a world-first initiative to confirm trace element analysis can be used to accurately verify the manufacturing origin of infant formula.
The Details
Formula and milk powder supply chains have faced a spectrum of issues over the last decade. From mislabelling and misrepresentation of origin to adulteration, and in some cases, complete substitution, these profoundly impact availability, product safety, brand and industry value, and consumer trust.
In 2023, Source Certain developed a program to demonstrate the ability trace element analysis to verify the origin and differentiate various brands and batches of commercially available infant formula.
Program details
- Infant formula was sourced from 14 producers globally.
- Several tins from both the same batch and different batches were analysed, and the results were assessed using multivariate analysis.
- The results enable verification of source – the geographical location and the batch of product manufactured.
Rachel Scadding Chief Operations Officer Source Certain
Outcomes
- As the de-identified graph on the right indicates, individual brands are easily discriminated.
- Timestamped tins from a single brand can also be discriminated.
- The technology also showed discrimination between tins produced 2 hours apart.
- Formula of an unknown origin was verified to its brand and timestamp of origin. This is useful in cases of recall but also for overcoming market access issues.
Scientific origin verification
We use trace element analysis and, in some instances, stable isotope analysis to determine a unique chemical profile, or ‘signature,’ for a reference sample. The signature is used to verify an origin claim for a product claiming to come from the same location as the original sample.
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