Result for many analyses stated under category Quality can be compared to limits or expected values stated in ISO standard for respective species. The ISO references is mentioned for respective spice/herb under section Our analyses. The ISO standards can be purchased at the ISO website.

Quality parameters

• Moisture
• Total ash
• Acid-insoluble ash
• Volatile oil
• Extraneous matter (whole, crushed)
• Extraneous matter (ground)
• Light Berries in Whole Black or White Pepper 
• Bulk density
• Picrocrocin, bitterness
• Crocin, colouring strength
• Safranal, taste
• Artificial water-soluble acid colourants
• Ethereal extract of saffron

There are a few exemptions for section Quality analyses not mentioned in ISO standards, these are:  

• Colour value
The paprika color scale from ASTA has ratings for paprika color. It is a measurement of the extractable color of products of the capsicum species and its principal use is as quality indicator for paprika. Color value can also be reduced over time with storage.

• Crude fibre
A natural constituent for some species. Result can be compared to expected level for respective species or compared to product specification. Elevated amount can be an indication of adulteration.

• Starch
Starch can be used as adulterate, unexpected values need to be evaluated and clarified.

• Active substances
Coumarin, capsaicin and aloin can have health effects when consumed in higher amounts, this entail requirements to limit maximum content of these substances. See further information in (EG) 1334/2008.

For the other active substances mentioned results are suitably compared to literature values or product specification.

Active substances

• Piperin
• Curcumin
• Gingerol/Shogaols
• Capsaicin
• Coumarin
• Aloin

Contaminants and unwanted substances are regulated by European commission. Mainly (EG) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food and (EG) 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. EU Pesticide database is a useful tool for evaluation of results.

For analysis listed under the category contaminants/unwanted substances there are a few exemptions where limits are not available, these are:  

• Irradiation
  The use of ionizing radiation must be declared.
• Mineral oil
  For the moment there is guidance limits present.
  Guidance values for MOAH
  
  • Dry foods with a low fat content (≤ 4% fat/oil): 0.5 mg/kg
  • Foods with a higher fat content (> 4% fat/oil, ≤ 50 % fat/oil): 1 mg/kg
  • Fats/oils and foods with > 50 % fat/oil: 2 mg/kg
  • Foods with MOAH levels above these defined LOQs should be withdrawn or removed from the market. The limits should be applied to the products “as sold”, regardless of the source of MOAH.
• Calcium
  Chalk can be used as adulterate, unexpected values need to be evaluated and clarified.
• Nickel
  Limits for nickel is to be implemented in (EU) 2023/915 in 2025

Food substances that can cause allergy or intolerance must be labeled and comply with EU regulation 1169/2011.

• Annex II lists which products and substances must be specifically labeled in the list of ingredients. Even small quantities of these substances must be declared regardless of quantity.
• Article 21 informs about how allergens must be labeled.

Limits exist for

• Gluten
  Limit for gluten-free products is 20 mg/kg and products with very low level 100 mg/kg according to 828/2014 EG.
• Sulphite
  Limit for sulphur dioxide and sulphites are 10 mg/kg (EC) no 1169/2011

As no legal limits exist for most of the food allergen an internal strategy for handling positive result is needed for correct action on unexpected results.

PCR NGS

PCR NGS analysis gives you semi quantitative information on which species your product contains.

Purity of your product can be monitored with PCR NGS, below you have result overview from three different lots of Oregano showing presence of different number of detected genus/species for the different lots.

The result of PCR NGS test BJNGP analysis will be given in a table:

In the second column the botanical names are given for sequences found in the sample. This result can be a family, genus or species name (see below). For results on species level, the English common species name is given in the third column. In the last column the sequence read % is given. This value gives the relative amount of sequences that were found for this plant (not the relative plant amount, please see part “How to interpret Read %? Is this a Quantitative Result?”).

Why is not always a Species Identification possible but sometimes only a Genus or even Family Identification?

This happens when a sequence of the sample cannot be uniquely sorted to a single plant species in the database during the bioinformatical data evaluation process. For example if the sequence fits to several species of one genus, this genus will be given as result in the report. Reasons are 

1. the sequence quality by itself is not good, which is caused by a low DNA quality in highly processed samples (e.g. ground/milled, fermented…) and/or
2. the database contains only few or even no sequences for a plant species and/or
3. the sequences of several plant species of one genus are identical (e.g. a high sequence similarity is known for Prunus species).

How to interpret Read %? Is this a Quantitative Result?

The method uses the DNA resp. PCR amplified sequence parts from the DNA of the sample. Whereas the sequence of the DNA is identical in all cells of a single plant, the DNA amount can be different in different tissues like roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds. As for the production of herbs and spices different plant tissues are used (e.g. ginger = root, oregano = leaves, clove = bud, cinnamon = bark), the DNA amount does not automatically correlate with the weight amount of a distinct plant in a mixture.

→ The % DNA sequence reads in the report do not give the weight:weight % of the plant in the sample. It is only a rough indication for the relative amount of the plant in the sample. Depending on the composition of the sample this correlation can be better or worse. This information is also given in the footnote below the table in the report.

The cut-off for the sequence read % value is 0.5 %. That means plant results with a sequence read fraction below 0.5 % of all assigned reads are not reported. Our experience shows that this is in most cases a weight:weight LOD of ~ 1-2 %.

NMR profile  

NMR profile for control of quality and possible adulteration (dilution, substitution, use of spent material, addition of unwanted substances. The analysis compares your product to database values of authentic species. Admixture of foreign substance of 5-10% can be detected.

Any single species or defined product has its unique spectra, comparing spectra from your product to a reference database will reveal any deviations if present. The spectra of analyzed sample is compared to a database obtained from authentic samples and is projected in statistical models.

Result is presented as conclusion of the assessment:
1-H NMR spectra in agreement with reference database /  1-H NMR spectra not in agreement with reference database.

NMR test is an early warning analytical methodology. Deviations compared to authentic samples needs to be investigated further to elucidate the origin for the deviation. Observations seen and clearly deduced from the deviation in spectra will be informed in the assessment of the results.

This figure shows a section from a spectra where the black line deviates from colored spectra of authentic sample.

The microbiological criteria for food is defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005. Spices and herbs are not generally covered by (EC) No 2073/2005. Accepted levels for salmonella in ready to eat product is stated, and can be applied for spices and herbs in relevant cases.

For other microbiological parameters suggested for hygienic control of spices and herbs, guidelines can be found on Swedish Food Agency Kontrollwiki.

Assessment on analytical result - Kontrollwiki (livsmedelsverket.se)
Microbiological criteria - Kontrollwiki (livsmedelsverket.se)