A landmark survey by the European Commission recently confirmed what many in the industry suspected: the herb and spice supply chain is one of the most vulnerable sectors in the global food market (European Commission, 2021). For North American producers, this isn't just a "European issue"—it’s a direct threat to brand integrity, consumer trust, and regulatory compliance.
Herbs, spices, and botanicals are prime targets for Economically Motivated Adulteration (EMA), a major focus for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA, 2023). Their high market value, complex international journey, and the heavy processing required to reach the shelf create a "perfect storm" for food fraud. Whether it's adding fillers to cut costs or mislabeling species for higher margins, the risk to your supply chain is real.
The Challenge of Modern Food Fraud
Safeguarding a brand requires knowing exactly what is in the bottle. However, identifying a plant once it has been dried, ground, or blended into a "complex matrix" is notoriously difficult.
Traditionally, species identification relied on morphological examination (physical traits) by botanical experts. While accurate for whole plants, this approach fails with modern food testing, especially for products containing multiple species or powdered blends.
From Barcoding to Metabarcoding
The industry has moved toward DNA Barcoding as a global standard for identification (CBOL Plant Working Group, 2009). Much like a Universal Product Code (UPC) distinguishes items in a supermarket, each plant species has a unique genetic sequence that acts as a digital fingerprint (Hebert et al., 2003).
- Sanger Sequencing (The Traditional Standard): This "first-generation" methodology is tried-and-true but limited. It can only process a single DNA template at a time. If your sample is a blend or contains fillers, Sanger sequencing cannot "untangle" the different DNA strands simultaneously.
- DNA Metabarcoding (The NGS Revolution): This is DNA barcoding powered by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). NGS allows for "massively parallel" sequencing, processing millions of DNA fragments at once.
Why NGS is a Game-Changer for North America
DNA metabarcoding allows laboratories to sequence multiple samples and genes simultaneously. This makes it possible to identify every plant species within a complex sample, detecting both intentional fraud and accidental cross-contamination.
While the bioinformatics (the computational analysis required to decode this data) is complex, the result is an unrivaled level of transparency for food safety, quality, and authenticity.
A Holistic Approach to Authenticity
While DNA metabarcoding is the gold standard for species identification, comprehensive brand protection often requires a multi-faceted approach. Beyond biological identity, chemical markers can reveal further risks. Our advanced chemistry services—including testing for illegal dyes, heavy metals, and pesticide residues—complement our molecular capabilities to provide a 360-degree view of your product's integrity.
Expert Testing in the Heart of the Midwest
Mérieux NutriSciences is proud to offer advanced DNA metabarcoding at our Silliker Food Science Center in Crete, IL. We help North American producers verify their ingredients, protect their brand reputation, and ensure the highest standards of food authenticity.
Meet Us at ASTA
Mérieux NutriSciences is heading to the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting! If you’re attending, we’d love to discuss how our DNA metabarcoding capabilities can help you navigate the evolving challenges of spice authenticity and supply chain safety.
Book a meeting with us to schedule a specific time to connect in person during the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
References
CBOL Plant Working Group. (2009). A DNA barcode for land plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(31), 12794–12797. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0905845106
European Commission. (2021). Results of the first coordinated control plan on the authenticity of herbs and spices. Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety. https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-network/eu-coordinated-actions/herbs-and-spices-2019-2021_en
Hebert, P. D., Cywinska, A., Ball, S. L., & deWaard, J. R. (2003). Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270(1512), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2218
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Economically motivated adulteration (Food fraud). https://www.fda.gov/food/compliance-enforcement-food/economically-motivated-adulteration-food-fraud