Origin authentication of distillers' dried grains and solubles (DDGS)--application and comparison of different analytical strategies.

6 Tablas.-- 1 FiguraIn the context of products from certain regions or countries being banned because of an identified or non-identified hazard, proof of geographical origin is essential with regard to feed and food safety issues. Usually, the product labeling of an affected feed lot shows origin, and the paper documentation shows traceability. Incorrect product labeling is common in embargo situations, however, and alternative analytical strategies for controlling feed authenticity are therefore needed. In this study, distillers' dried grains and solubles (DDGS) were chosen as the product on which to base a comparison of analytical strategies aimed at identifying the most appropriate one. Various analytical techniques were investigated for their ability to authenticate DDGS, including spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques combined with multivariate data analysis, as well as proven techniques for authenticating food, such as DNA analysis and stable isotope ratio analysis. An external validation procedure (called the system challenge) was used to analyze sample sets blind and to compare analytical techniques. All the techniques were adapted so as to be applicable to the DDGS matrix. They produced positive results in determining the botanical origin of DDGS (corn vs. wheat), and several of them were able to determine the geographical origin of the DDGS in the sample set. The maintenance and extension of the databanks generated in this study through the analysis of new authentic samples from a single location are essential in order to monitor developments and processing that could affect authentication.The research described in this paper was funded by the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007‐2013) under Grant Agreement 265702, QSAFFE project (www.qsaffe.eu). The information in the paper reflects the authors’ views; the EC is not liable for any use of the information contained herein. The authors wish to thank all those who provided samples, particularly the QSAFFE project partners, PROVIMI, THOMPSON, and CAU, as well as those who collected and dispatched samples within the partner network, particularly Rudi Krska (IFA-Tulln) and all the technicians who conducted the analyses. The authors also wish to thank PROVIMI for providing the DDGS NIR spectral databases and Eric Janssen (CRA-W) for the PCR assessment of the botanical origin of mixed samples