| Abstract: |
Researchers at UCM Madrid and Scintillon Institute (US) develop sensor to detect fake oil – such as ordinary types sold as "extra virgin".Researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, (UCM) and the Scintillon Institute in San Diego, Ca, US, have designed an optical sensor that can detect counterfeit olive oil labeled as extra virgin or protected designation of origin. The tool, reported in the Elsevier jornal Talanta, can distinguish between apparently similar oils that present notable differences in quality. This is possible thanks to the use of laser diodes, because the fluorescence emitted by adulterated oils is slightly different to that of pure “extra virgin” olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil is made from pure, cold-pressed olives, whereas regular olive oil is a blend, including both cold-pressed and processed oils, considered to be inferior in flavor, purity and appearance. A well-known example of fraudulent practice is adulterating fresh, pure virgin olive oil with inferior, cheaper olive oil or oils of another botanical origin. |
