Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2016, Volume 19, Issue 1

Assessing the Authenticity of Vinegar by Combined 2H-SNIF-NMR and 13C-IRMS Analysis

Abstract

Vinegar is a wide consumed product used as acidifying or preserving agent in different food products and can be derived from a diversity of raw materials like grapes, grape must, apples, honey, fruits, cereals, maize, rice, etc. Although it is not a very expensive product, there are some vinegars highly appreciated and sold on the market, such as balsamic vinegar, fruit vinegars or vinegars with geographical indication (PGI), making this product attractive to adulteration. The paper describes the capability of the deuterium and carbon-13 fingerprint, measured by ²H-SNIF-NMR and ¹³C-IRMS, to discriminate vinegars according to source, natural (C3/C4 plants) or synthetic. Literature data with reference values for the authentication of vinegars is also presented. From the set of nine samples, four showed a natural source, four a synthetic source, while one was a mixture of them. The isotopic fingerprint proved an efficient tool for the control of vinegar authenticity and adulteration.