Laser used to detect fake honey
FEB 19, 2013
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026779
Ars Technica : Because honey is an expensive food product, it has fallen prey to smuggling and counterfeiting: Honey snuck into the US from other countries, such as China, may be tainted with antibiotics or heavy metals, and some honey producers water down their product with corn or rice syrup, malt, or sugar. To separate the real from the fake, scientists are using laser technology developed to detect trace amounts of gas in outer space. Organic molecules contain a mix of carbon isotopes that show up in the molecules’ spectra. By burning a few milligrams of honey, investigators can use lasers to scan the carbon dioxide released and thereby determine the honey’s provenance. As the device is refined, it may also be used to test the health and safety of other food products, such as olive oil and chocolate.
© 2013 American Institute of Physics
