The DNA Fingerprint in Food Forensics Part II: The Jasmine Rice Case

Publication for free download here: Eurofins DNA fingerprinting method for Jasmine rice authenticity testing

Apr 2020. In December 2019 we introduced a new DNA fingerprinting method for the authenticity testing of all 41 Basmati rice varieties in the revised UK Code of Practice (CoP) on Basmati Rice of 2017. In general the method is suited to identify rice varieties of all kind. Accordingly we have determined the DNA fingerprints of different rice varieties from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar with a special focus on Jasmine rice. This test, like the Basmati test, was published in Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech, a bimonthly peer-reviewed journal covering food science and technology.

The DNA fingerprint in food forensics part II: the Jasmine rice case*
The new test was published in Agri FOOD Industry Hi Tech Jan/Feb 2020. The publication is available here for free download.

*Authors: Dr Werner Nader - Eurofins Global Control GmbH, Hamburg; Dr OUK Makara, Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Jennifer Elsner, Dr Torsten Brendel, Dr Rainer Schubbert - Eurofins Genomics Europe Applied Genomics GmbH, Ebersberg

Origin of reference materials

In a collaboration with Eurofins the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Phnom Penh, provided reference materials of the indica type rice varieties listed in the Cambodian Milled Rice Standard. The project was funded by the International Finance Cooperation of the World Bank. Unfortunately such references are not easily accessible from official sources in the other countries of the region and were therefore obtained from the trade instead. These proved to be genuine based on results from our routine testing of hundreds of samples from consignments of these varieties exported to the EU.

Breeding history of Jasmine rice

Jasmine rice is the customary name for premium fragrant cultivars originating from the lowlands of the Central East of Thailand and the North-western part of Cambodia. In contrast to the term “Basmati rice”, which is well defined in the pioneering UK Code of Practice (CoP) by a joint effort of all stakeholders in the UK, India and Pakistan, there is no common understanding about Jasmine rice authenticity. The results from the DNA fingerprints allow the identification and quantification of Jasmine varieties in mixtures now and furthermore shed light into the relationships among the traditional and evolved Jasmine cultivars of the region.

The future of Jasmine rice

Basmati authenticity could be defined in a more flexible manner based on families instead of varieties. As an example Arborio, Carnaroli and Baldo are most famous as Risotto rice in Italy. Different cultivars belong to each of these rice families under Italian law and each year new improved varieties are added to the list. Similarly Basmati rice families could be defined based on the genetic relationships discovered in the Eurofins study.

Control of food integrity (quality, safety, authenticity,defence) of rice – the complete spectrum

Authenticity is only one of several challenges, which the global rice industry and trade is facing. Eurofins Germany provides the international trade with a bundle of control measures to minimise these risks including preshipment inspections, loading controls, audits of suppliers, the full scope of chemical, physical and microbiological testing and – last but not least – DNA fingerprinting for authenticity testing.

References

[1] Nader, W.F.; Makara O., Elsner, J.; Brendel, T.; and Schubbert, R.: The DNA fingerprint in food forensics part II – the Jasmine rice case. Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech, 31(1): 54-58, 2020

Further publications are also available from the authors or can be downloaded here:
[2] Nader, W.F.; Elsner, J.; Brendel, T.; and Schubbert, R.: The DNA fingerprint in food forensics – the Basmati rice case. Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech, 30(6): 57-61, 2019
[3] Nader, W.F.; Brendel, T.; and Schubbert, R.: Advances in DNA fingerprinting for food authenticity testing. In: Advances in Food Authenticity Testing (G. Downey, editor).  Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2016, pages 7 – 33
[4] Nader, W.F.; Grote, A.-K.; and Cuevas Montilla, E.: Impacts of food safety and authenticity issues on the rice trade. Pages 159 – 176 in: Rice Processing – The Comprehensive Guide to Global Technology and Innovative Products (J. Sontag, editor). Erling Verlag, Germany, 2014
[5] Nader, W.F.; Brendel, T.; and Schubbert, R.: DNA-analysis: enhancing the control of food authenticity through emerging technologies. Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech 24(1): 42-46, 2013