The TOFoo® project: Eurofins Analyses Alimentaires France announces launch of non-targeted analysis to distinguish organic from conventional UHT milk and tomatoes
Nantes, 4 July 2023
Eurofins Analyses Alimentaires France, a leading provider in quality food analysis services and a pioneer in food authenticity testing, is launching an easy-to-use commercial solution to determine the “organic” authenticity of raw or minimally processed agricultural products. This innovation, developed as part of the TOFoo® (True Organic Food) collaborative research project, is based on methods that collect the overall analytical footprint of food products and uses artificial intelligence to process the data. The methods used classify samples into two categories - organic or conventional. As part of the launch, this analysis is available for UHT milk and tomatoes, with other products to follow.
Analyses to guarantee the authenticity of organic products
This analytical solution has been developed as part of the TOFoo® project and is based on the databases of hundreds of organic and conventional reference samples collected over several years and representative of the diversity of French production. The analytical footprint of these samples has been collected using two approaches that reflect their overall composition: NMR* (analysis of the product’s detailed composition and metabolites) and IRMS** (analysis to identify the origin of molecules by determining isotopes). The analysis is both multi-technical and non-targeted: and composition of food products is examined in a number of ways, without any preconceived assumptions about the criteria that may distinguish organic from conventional food products. The analytical footprints generated through the TOFoo® project can then be used to build statistical models based on multivariate analysis or artificial intelligence, with the aim of classifying new samples as being either organic or conventional. This solution goes beyond mere targeted analyses for pesticide residues, GMOs or the detection of antibiotics to verify the authenticity of organic products. Thanks to its non-targeted nature, it reveals intrinsic characteristics linked to specific farming practices in the organic sector, without focusing on a particular substance or family of molecules.
This TOFoo® project analysis solution will initially focus on analysing UHT milk and tomatoes. Analysis to date has shown that, for these two food products, the combined use of analytical techniques and models allows for the correct classification of the samples. Further research on other raw or minimally processed food products and on other analytical techniques is currently underway. Further project results are expected by the end of 2023.
A tool to boost consumer confidence in the organic sector
The organic sector is currently facing challenges when it comes to the attractiveness of organic products. Consumers are increasingly turning to other labels and classifications, which have multiplied in recent years. This decline can possibly be attributed to a combination of the pricing of organic food products being deemed too high and consumers having doubts about the authenticity of organic products. According to the Agence Bio's latest Barometer, this skepticism has risen by 17% between 2021 and 2022. As a result, these doubts have become the second biggest barrier to consumer purchase. The launch of the non-targeted TOFoo® supports the organic food industry with an additional tool to better guarantee compliance with authorised organic farming practices, protecting the market’s legitimate players and supporting the dynamism of French organic product exports.
An innovation stemming from a collaborative research project and supported by a Sector Council comprising organic producers and manufacturers
This innovative analysis solution was developed as part of the TOFoo® project, a €17.3 million collaborative research project supported by the French State as part of France 2030 and operated by Bpifrance, coordinated by Eurofins Analyses Alimentaires France and bringing together 9 partners, each contributing their own expertise: analysis laboratory (Eurofins), analysis instruments company (Thermo Fisher Scientific), digital company (Atol C&D), agri-food company (Bonduelle), academic institutions (the GEPEA laboratory and the CEISAM Institute at Nantes University, UniLaSalle engineering school associated with Laval University in Quebec and the French research Institute for Organic Farming). Moreover, a Sector Council made up of around twenty representatives from the organic sector supports TOFoo and guides the project’s contributors, ensuring that R&D activities meet the practical needs of those involved in the organic sector: AOPn Tomates et Concombres de France, Biolait, Eurial, Poder, Pronatura (Groupe Organic Alliance), Olga.
Eurofins Analyses Alimentaires France is part of the Eurofins network of companies, whose foundation 35 years ago was based on authenticity analyses. Eurofins Analyses Alimentaires France is proud to launch this analytical solution stemming from a cutting-edge scientific project to further contribute to safe, healthy, authentic and environmentally-friendly food.
*NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
** Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
Press Contact
|
For Eurofins Analyses Alimentaires France : CommunicationFoodFrance@eurofins.com Phone : +33.2.51.83.21.00 |
Notes to editors :
For more information, please visit www.eurofins.com or contact
Investor Relations
Eurofins Scientific SE
Téléphone : +32 2 766 1620
E-mail : ir@eurofins.com
About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis Eurofins is Testing for Life.
The Eurofins network of companies believes that it is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience contract research services. It is also one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in biopharma contract development and manufacturing. It also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.
With ca. 62,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of over 900 laboratories in 62 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of a wide range of products, as well as providing innovative clinical diagnostic testing services and invitro diagnostic products.
Eurofins companies’ broad range of services are important for the health and safety of people and our planet. The ongoing investment to become fully digital and maintain the best network of state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment supports our objective to provide our customers with high-quality services, innovative solutions and accurate results in the best possible turnaround time (TAT). Eurofins companies are well positioned to support clients’ increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the increasing demands of regulatory authorities as well as the evolving requirements of healthcare practitioners around the world.
Eurofins has grown very strongly since its inception and its strategy is to continue expanding its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions.
Shares in Eurofins Scientific are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0014000MR3, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).
Until it has been lawfully made public widely by Eurofins through approved distribution channels, this document contains inside information for the purpose of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse, as amended.
Important disclaimer:
This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgment of Eurofins Scientific’s management as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forwardlooking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the information available to the Company’s management as of the date of publication, but no guarantees can be made as to their completeness or validity.
About France 2030:
Governed by Bruno Bonnell Secretary General of Investments (SGPI) on behalf of the Prime Minister.
A double ambition: Sustainably transform our key economic sectors (energy, healthcare, automobile, aeronautics, space…) whilst increasing the competitivity of French companies in these respective sectors. France 2030 will support all cycles of innovation up until industrialisation: from research, to development of ideas, to prototypes, to production of new services and products.
Unprecedent funding: €54 billion will be invested into companies, universities and research centers. France 2030 is in possession and has control over its €54 billion fund and will invest 50% of the budget into the decarbonisation of French economy and the latter 50% in sustainable innovations and ground-breaking technologies.
Collective action: Strategic actions and plans will be thought of and deployed in coordination with economic actors, academia and field experts, as well as local and European institutions.
For more information: www.gouvernement.fr/france-2030
