Identification of lentils (Lens culinaris Medik) from Eglouvi (Lefkada, Greece) based on rare earth elements profile combined with chemometrics

Theopisti Lymperopoulou; Kalliopi Balta-Brouma; Lamprini-Areti Tsakanika; Constantina Tzia; Anna Tsantili-Kakoulidou; Fotios Tsopelas

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138965

Identification of lentils (Lens culinaris Medik) from Eglouvi (Lefkada, Greece) based on rare earth elements profile combined with chemometrics

Food Chem. 2024 Jul 30:447:138965. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138965. Epub 2024 Mar 7.

Authors

Theopisti Lymperopoulou¹, Kalliopi Balta-Brouma¹, Lamprini-Areti Tsakanika², Constantina Tzia³, Anna Tsantili-Kakoulidou⁴, Fotios Tsopelas⁵

Affiliations

¹ Horizontal Laboratory of Quality Control of Processes and Products, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Polytechniopolis Zografou, Iroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece.
² Laboratory of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Polytechniopolis Zografou, Iroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece.
³ Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Polytechniopolis Zografou, Iroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece.
⁴ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece.
⁵ Laboratory of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Polytechniopolis Zografou, Iroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: ftsop@central.ntua.gr.

PMID: 38513482
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138965

Abstract

An analytical approach has been developed to verify the authenticity of premium lentils originating from Eglouvi, Lefkada, Greece. The method relies on the digestion of samples followed by the analysis of their rare earth elements (REEs) content. Lentils originating from Eglouvi exhibit higher content in most REEs compared to lentils from other regions as well as distinct Sc/Y and Sc/Yb concentration ratios. Principal component analysis effectively segregates "Eglouvi" lentils into a distinct cluster. Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) successfully models "Eglouvi" lentils. Significant enhancement in model specificity was achieved upon inclusion of Sc/Y and Sc/Yb concentration ratios as additional variables. The model is capable of detecting adulteration in blends of Eglouvi lentils, with a minimum rejection threshold of 4.6% w/w for Greek lentil adulterants and 6.0% w/w for imported lentil adulterants.

Keywords: Adulteration; Food authentication; Principal component analysis (PCA); Rare earth elements (REEs); Soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA); “Eglouvi” lentils.

MeSH terms

Chemometrics
Greece
Lens Plant*