Research group Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger

Authenticity and quality of foodstuffs and materials - CSI-Food Bayreuth

High quality foods command higher prices. Especially if they come from specific regions or make special health claims. This applies not only to consumer prices, but also along the entire value chain, i.e. also to producers, processors and refiners, bottlers, and retailers. However, the information given on origin and quality is often incorrect - or even deliberately misstated in order to achieve higher revenues. This is called economically motivated food fraud. In such cases, not only consumers suffer detriment, but also the traders, processors, bottlers, etc. involved.

Our laboratory is therefore working on the development of analytical methods to prevent food fraud and to ensure safety and fairness throughout the value chain.

Methods
Because the quality and authenticity of food does not usually depend on a single test parameter, and because counterfeiters often deliberately mask their manipulations, we work with methods that can quickly record a large number of test parameters: In other words, we digitize foods and create virtual fingerprints of their ingredients. This enables us to quickly obtain a first overall impression of the sample being analysed within just a few minutes.

As a rule, there is not a single method that can provide safety in all respects - nature is too diverse and food too complex. Therefore, our group uses various multi-parameter methods, in particular NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and optical, infrared (IR)-based methods. We often combine these with other classical reference methods (see equipment list) to ensure the validity of the newly developed screening methods.

Chemometry
... is a comparatively new discipline in chemistry. Essentially, it is about establishing connections between complex chemical analysis data and certain facts, such as a certain region of origin or method of cultivation. In order to be able to combine data from our projects (yes, we make big data even bigger), our group is developing a unique software tool. Among other things, we are able to identify combinations of methods in order to solve problems that cannot be dealt with using one method alone. These often involve questions of geographical origin or cultivation methods, i.e. whether it’s organic or not.

Broad applicability
We are currently conducting intensive research on honey, cereals (AgrOr project), edible oils, cocoa, beverages (including energy drinks), fish & meat, and other predominantly vegetable foods. Besides this, we routinely carry out feasibility studies for new food products. However, our spectroscopic methods are not limited to foodstuffs. Especially our IR-based optical methods can be used very efficiently for material testing. Even gemstones can be tested for authenticity...

Videos and Media Contributions

Media regularly visit our laboratory and ask for our scientific expertise. Below is a collection of links where we contribute to TV-publications (in German language only). More information on our work is available further down this page.

• Safran, Olivenöl und co - echt oder nicht? Die Tricks mit Gewürzen und Olivenöl (NDR, 2024)
  
  
• Die Kunst des Honig-Shoppings: Darauf solltest du bei dem süßen Lebensmittel achten (Galileo - ProSieben, 2023) (in german language)
  
  
• Und wie gut ist der gelobte Manuka-Honig? Honig gegen Erkältung? Was macht guten Honig aus? (Extra - RTL, 2023) (in german language)
  
  
• O Die Tricks: Die Tricks mit Honig (NDR, Mai 2022) (in german language)
  
  
• Gut zu wissen: Schnelltest für Olivenöle (BR/ARD, 2021) (in german language)
  
  
• Nano: Honig Fake (alpha, 2021, forward to minute 10) (in german language)
  
  
• Aktuell: Fake Food – Die Tricks der Lebensmittelfälscher (ZDF, 2019) (in german language)
  
  
• Campus Talks: Lebensmittelfälschern auf der Spur (BR-Alpa, 2018) (in german language)
  
  
• Markt-Check (SWR): Mit Sirup gestreckt? Wie echt ist Honig aus dem Supermarkt? (SWR, 2018) (in german language)
  
  
• Woher kommt eigentlich unser Honig? (Galileo – ProSieben, 2017) (in german language)
  
  

   
Publications:

1. S. Schwarzinger (2023): Food authenticity and quality screening. NMR, MS, IR - what is the best technology? Wiley Analytical Science. GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift (03/2023)
   
   
2. S. Schwarzinger (2023): Echtheits- und Qualitätsscreening von Lebensmitteln. NMR, oder was sonst? Wiley Analytical Science. GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift (03/2023)
   
   
3. S. Schwarzinger (2022): Battling food fraud using untargeted analytics. J. Consum. Prot. Food Saf. 17, 205-207. doi.org/10.1007/s00003-022-01395-9
   
   
4. S. Schwarzinger, P. Kolb, A. Zeitler, H. Gebhard, F. Brauer, F. Rüll, S. Bindereif, B. Kämpf (2022): Mit KI Lebensmittelbetrug vermeiden - Die analytische Supply-Blockchain für Olivenöl. Laborpraxis, online 28.09.2022.
   
   
5. S. Haupt, T. Niedrist, H. Sourij, S. Schwarzinger, O. Moser* (2022): The Impact of Exercise on Telomere Length, DNA Methylation and Metabolic Foodprints. Cells 11(1):153. DOI 10.3390/cells11010153
   
   
6. S. Bindereif, F. Rüll, P. Kolb, L. Köberle, H. Willms, S. Steidele, S. Schwarzinger*, G. Gebauer* (2021): Impact of Global Climate Change on the European Barley Market Requires Novel Multi-Method Approaches to Preserve Crop Quality and Authenticity. Foods 10(7):1592. DOI 10.3390/foods10071792
   
   
7. S. Schwarzinger*, F. Rüll, F. Brauer, P. Kolb, S. Bindereif, L. Köberle, S. Steidele, P. Rösch (2021): Honig in präzisen Dosen – Studien zur automatisierten Probenvorbereitung. Laborpraxis Vogel2/2021.
   
   
8. S. Bindereif, F. Rüll, S. Schwarzinger, C. Schwarzinger (2020): Chemometric Modeling of Trace Element Data for Origin Determination of Demantoid Garnets. Minerals 10(12):1046. DOI 10.3390/min10121046
   
   
9. S. Rosenfeldt, F. Mickoleit, C. Jörke, J.H. Clement, S. Markert, V. Jérome, S. Schwarzinger, R. Freitag, D. Schüler, R. Uebe, A.S. Schenk* (2020): Towards standardized purification of bacterial magnetit nanoparticles for future in vivo applications, Acta Biomineralica, in press (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.07.042).
   
   
10. A. Lang* & S. Schwarzinger* (2020): Die technische Trocknung von unreif geernteten Honigen – Eine Auslegung der europäischen Honig-Richtlinie. DLR (Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau) 116. Jg., Nr. 2, 57-62.
    
    
11. A. Dübecke* & S. Schwarzinger* (2020): Honey-Regulations: Where Is the (Reasonable) Limit? Bee World# (98(1): 1-3. DOI 10.1080/0005772X.2020.1838171
    
    
12. APIMONDA Work group "Adulteration" (unter Beteiligung von S. Schwarzinger): APIMONDIA Statement on Honey Fraud. APIMONDIA web site, 2019. 
    
    
13. S. Schwarzinger*, F. Brauer, P. Rösch, B. Schütz, B. Kämpf, G. Beckh, C. Lüllmann, A. Dübecke (2016): Authentische Lebensmittel – Warum ein Analyseparameter nicht genügt. Q & More online.
    
    
14. S. Schwarzinger*, P. Rösch, B. Kämpf (2015): Mit Hightech gegen Honigverfälschung. Deutsches Bienenjournal 2. 2015. 
    
    
15. W. Bachert, L. Köberle, F. Brauer, P. Rösch, S. Schwarzinger* (2014): Mehr als Honig? Q & More 2.14, 36-43. 
    
    
16. L. Köberle, F. Brauer, P. Rösch, S. Schwarzinger* mit K. Tröger, K.-H. Schwind, F. Schwägele (2013): Was essen wir? Qualitätsanalytik von Lebensmitteln durch NMR. Q & More, 02.13, 42-47.