PRECISE DETERMINATION OF STRONTIUM ISOTOPE RATIOS BY TIMS TO AUTHENTICATE TOMATO GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN

Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) was applied to discriminate a total of 118 tomato samples (berries, “passata”, tinned tomatoes, sauce, double and triple concentrate) coming from two different countries. The TIMS technique gave significantly different results for the 87Sr/86Sr ratios and δ‰ values between Chinese and Italian tomato samples, irrespective of the treatment type. This technique proved to be a “robust” method, suitable for a precise discrimination of the two geographical origins. TIMS was able, within the Italian samples, to discriminate different geographical production areas, by virtue of different 87Sr/86Sr ratios and δ‰ values. This technique could be employed in the field of food safety and quality, as a profitable tool for authenticating tomato geographical origin.