Exploring the Potential of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr Isotope Ratio with Strontium and Rubidium Levels to Assess the Geographic Origin of Saffron

Author(s)

Micha Horacek, Mounira Lage, Jyoti Vakhlu

Abstract

Saffron is regarded as the most expensive spice, mainly because of its laborious harvest. Only a few countries dominate the global saffron market, with Iran producing by far the most saffron, and the saffron production of all other countries thus being much smaller. However, the respective national production (not only of saffron) is usually preferred by local consumers with respect to foreign products and often has a higher price. Cases of saffron with mislabeled geographic origin have repeatedly occurred. Thus, to protect local saffron production, control of the declared geographic origin is required. In the present case, differentiation of the geographic origin by ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr is performed. The results show the saffron of several countries of origin to vary within the range of marine carbonates; however, saffron samples of Moroccan and Indian origin mainly show elevated ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values. Within the Indian saffron samples, one sample from Kishtwar Valley can be differentiated from the Kashmir saffron samples. The results are thus promising, especially when using the combination of Sr and Rb concentrations to differentiate geographic origin whenever the regions are of homogenous bedrock geology within and of different geology between the regions. However, the reported findings need to be checked and confirmed by further and additional saffron samples.

Organisation(s)

Department of Lithospheric Research

External organisation(s)

Höhere Bundeslehr- und Forschungsanstalt "Francisco Josephinum", National Institute of Agronomique Research (INRA), University of Jammu

Journal

Foods

Volume

12

ISSN

2304-8158

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12152830

Publication date

08-2023

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

105105 Geochemistry

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Food Science, Microbiology, Health(social science), Health Professions (miscellaneous), Plant Science

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/c733d44c-daae-47e3-8559-f53af7bf63e6