Authentication of dark brown sugars from different processing using three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy

• Published in: Food science & technology Vol. 150; p. 111959
• Main Authors: Chen, Jui-Yi, Chen, Xin-Wei, Lin, Yu-Yu, Yen, Gow-Chin, Lin, Jer-An
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Authentication; Dark brown sugar; Food fraud; Food safety; Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy; Dark brown sugar; Food fraud; Food safety; Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy; Authentication
• ISSN: 0023-6438; 1096-1127
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111959

Dark brown sugar (DBS) is a food material, the safety and quality, as well as prices of which are related to the nature of raw material (sugarcane), the production methods, and processes variables. Considering food fraud and safety, it is worth developing a simple approach to check the authenticity of DBS. Therefore, ultraviolet–visible and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopies, the quick and environmentally-friendly analysis methods, as well as mass spectrometry were evaluated for DBS authentication in this study. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to the data matrix obtained from these analyses. Results show that three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy can be effectively used for DBS authentication, because natural and commercial DBS forms different clusters in PCA and LDA plots. Cross-validation further indicates that the LDA of data obtained from three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy is able to discriminate main products of natural and commercial DBS. Notably, mass spectrometry may have the potential to quickly identify added caramel in DBS. This will be helpful for the establishment of a rapid quality control method for brown sugar materials in the food industry, which may reduce fraud of related raw materials and ensure food safety. 1.Dark brown sugar (DBS) is a foodstuff commonly subjected to adulteration.2.Natural and commercial DBS show different spectroscopic characteristics.3.Mass spectrometry may have potential to identify added caramel in DBS.4.3-D fluorescence spectroscopy is a good approach for DBS authentication.