Gelatine species determination, completion of method validation and determination of a quantitative method
Abstract:
Gelatine, derived from collagen in bone, hide, skin, or fish, is widely used in food, supplements, and pharmaceuticals as a binder or texturizer. Accurate labelling of gelatine species is essential for ethical, religious, and consumer choice, but its highly processed nature renders DNA- and protein-based detection methods unreliable. To address this, Fera Science developed high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAMS) methods to detect robust, species-specific collagen peptides. Using a proprietary database, these methods can determine bovine, porcine, equine, chicken, and fish gelatine in food matrices and in chicken exudate (plumping agents), supporting detection of adulteration and food fraud. HRAMS serves as a discovery tool, while targeted triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS methods were developed for routine, high-throughput analysis. The method has been validated to detect adulterating gelatine at 0.1–1% of total gelatine and has demonstrated robustness, reproducibility, and stability under refrigerated and frozen storage. Its application in Public Analyst laboratories strengthens UK capability to enforce food labelling legislation, maintain consumer trust, and mitigate fraudulent practices in the gelatine supply chain.
Date:
2024
Keywords:
Gelatine species origin, Collagen peptides, HRAMS (high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry), LC-TQ-MS/MS (triple quadrupole), Food fraud / mislabelling detection, Food labelling / authenticity
