Differentiation of Apricots of Different Geographic Origin in Central and Southern Europe by Applying 87Sr/86Sr Analysis: Potential and Limitations

A groundbreaking study demonstrates that strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) can effectively differentiate apricots from Slovakia and Hungary, including the renowned Wachau region in Austria, from other Austrian regions. This method offers a robust tool for verifying geographic origin without requiring annual reference data, unlike conventional stable isotope analyses. The research highlights its potential to combat mislabeling of food products, which can inflate prices and deceive consumers. While the differentiation between Slovak/Hungarian and Wachau apricots is clear, partial overlap exists with other Austrian regions, suggesting that the method's success hinges on the specificity of the question being addressed.

Horacek, M., Klcova, L., Hudcovicova, M., Ondreickova, K., Gubis, J., & Hölzl, S. (2022). Differentiation of Apricots of Different Geographic Origin in Central and Southern Europe by Applying 87Sr/86Sr Analysis: Potential and Limitations. Foods, 11(15), 2239. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11152239