Food Authenticity Testing
Food Authenticity is an essential part of Food Testing, providing the scientific certainty needed to verify what a product truly contains and where it comes from. As part of our Molecular Biology Food Testing, Food Authenticity services help manufacturers, retailers, and brand owners protect product integrity, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure your products are not altered, diluted, or substituted for financial gain. Using high-precision DNA and molecular techniques, we deliver reliable food authenticity testing and comprehensive food fraud testing that safeguard both consumer trust and brand reputation.
Our services cover a wide range of authenticity challenges, including Meat Speciation & Detection via Real-Time PCR for species such as beef, pork, goat, sheep, horse, chicken, and turkey. We apply DNA Barcoding to authenticate fish, plant, herb, and meat products with high accuracy. To support ethical and regulatory claims, we provide HALAL & VEGAN Verification, ensuring products align with specific cultural and dietary requirements. Our Allergen Detection & Quantification helps protect consumers with sensitivities, while Geographical and Botanical Origin Testing verifies high-value products such as olive oil and coffee. Together, these molecular services offer clarity, transparency, and dependable verification—empowering companies to prove authenticity, reduce risk, and strengthen their position in a competitive food market.
Food Authenticity Testing Services
Animal species identification includes the detection, semi-quantitative and quantitative determination of seven animal species (beef, pork, goat, sheep, horse, chicken, turkey) in food. The analysis is accredited according to ISO 17025 for detection and semi-quantitative determination and is performed using the Real-Time PCR technique. Through quantitative determination, the percentage of adulteration can be determined. TAT 3-5 working days. Ideal for detecting adulteration in the cold cuts/cooked meats industry (e.g. substitution of turkey with chicken, beef with pork), dairy industries (e.g. presence of cow’s milk in feta cheese, cow’s milk in goat’s milk) etc.
In 2007, a global effort began to find the genetic identity of all organisms (Barcode for Life-BOLD). The idea was that each organism has a unique part of genetic material, where its genetic identity (barcode) is hidden. Genetic identity is a powerful tool in favor of the Authenticity of plants, herbs, fish & animals. In a globalized market, genetic identity ensures that a product is what it claims to be.
After isolating genetic material from the sample, using molecular techniques (PCR), a special part of it is multiplied. The sequence of the genetic material is read base by base with a genetic analyzer. The produced sequence of genetic material is compared with standard global data banks (BOLD, UNITE, Blast, etc.) and the name of the species, and therefore the genetic identity, is obtained with great accuracy. TAT 5-7 working days.
Thus, a certificate is produced that guarantees the authenticity of the product. QACSFOOD Lab is ISO 17025 accredited for this analysis.
HALAL foods are of particular importance for Muslim populations since they are the only ones permitted for consumption by them. These foods have special certification. They stand out from the rest of the products on the market due to their ingredients (they never contain substances from pork and ethanol) and their production method.
Pork detection is performed using the most sensitive and reliable method (Real Time PCR), it is accredited and ensures the possibility of exporting to Muslim countries or is part of the HALAL certification.
Ethanol detection and quantification is performed using special chemical analyses.
In the modern world, more and more people choose to exclude meat from their diet, with the differences between vegan and vegetarian diets mainly relating to the exclusion or not of products of animal origin. Vegans exclude not only meat, but also all animal products, such as dairy products, eggs, and honey from their diet. Meat & Animal products detection is performed using the most sensitive and reliable method (Real Time PCR), it is accredited and ensures the absence of undesirable ingredients or is part of the VEGAN certification.
The detection and quantification of allergens in food is crucial for consumer safety and industry compliance with legislation regarding the correct labeling of food ingredients. The lack of allergen labeling is the number one cause of food recalls worldwide.
The analysis uses the accredited ELISA immunoenzyme method, which detects specific proteins/epitopes associated with allergenic ingredients (e.g. gluten, hazelnut, soy, milk, etc.).
Geographical origin is important in PDO products but also in all products that want to declare a place of origin. E.g. Aegina pistachios, Naxos potatoes, Zagori apples, etc. Scientific methods, such as isotope and trace element analysis, are used to ensure the authenticity, quality and connection of a product to its production area, which allows the certification of the claim of geographical origin and prevents adulteration.
Botanical origin analyses of foods, such as coffee, honey, oil and herbs, are used to certify authenticity, detect adulteration and determine the variety. Specialized molecular and chemical analyses are carried out to distinguish Greek products from imported ones, to certify that a product is pure olive oil without impurities from other cheaper oils, to find the olive variety from which an olive oil came, to confirm the coffee variety (arabica-robusta) and so on.