News story

Presentation videos: Government Chemist conference 2014

Videos filmed during the 'Beating the cheats: Quality, safety and authenticity in the food chain’ conference at the Royal Society, London.

An image of a selection of food.

Experts outlined how science, regulation and integrity within the food industry can combat food fraud during a 2-day conference in November 2014.

Here is a selection of videos filmed during the event.

Referee case update – lessons from disputes

Michael Walker, Consultant Science Manager, Government Chemist programme

Referee case update – lessons from disputes

Referee casework, the resolution of disputes between regulators and businesses by independent measurement and expert opinion, is a demand-led service at the core of the Government Chemist function. In guaranteeing fair scientific treatment for all by authoritative adjudication on disputes, we underpin public confidence in the food and feed official control system. This presentation outlines the reasons why laboratories’ findings may be rejected.

Proficiency testing: performance verification of the methods used for food safety analysis

Matthew Whetton, Head of Chemistry, Proficiency Testing, LGC

Proficiency testing: performance verification of the methods used for food safety analysis

In response to increasingly sophisticated counterfeiting or food adulteration, a wide range of analytical methodology is being developed and used by concerned organisations and agencies. An important aspect of method development and the on-going operation of analytical methods is verification of their performance by the use of proficiency testing. This presentation explains the ways that proficiency testing contributes to the fight against food fraud.

Wine fraud – catching the cheats

Geoff Taylor, Campden BRI

Wine fraud – catching the cheats

Wine is a massively diverse, complex industry with more than 10,000 different grape varieties grown in a surprisingly wide range of countries and climates. Prices can range from sub £5 to more than £10,000 per bottle, and with such a premium priced commodity product fraud and cheating is inevitable. This presentation how a combination of product knowledge and chemistry is essential in identifying fraud.

Modernising the Public Analyst service

Elizabeth Moran, Association of Public Analysts

Modernising the Public Analyst service

This presentation will reflect on the recommendations in the Elliott review into the integrity and assurance of food supply networks for the future of the public analyst service. It addresses proposals for modernisation of the current services using a case study of a public analyst service.

Light isotope ratio measurements: Applications for food authenticity/origin determination

Phil Dunn, Researcher, LGC

Light isotope ratio measurements: Applications for food authenticity/origin determination

This presentation explains how differences in isotopic composition can be used to discriminate between adulterated and non-adulterated foods, identify whether a product is labelled correctly and establish geographic origin. It also describes the development of a new isotopic ratio reference material.

Updates to this page

Published 6 March 2015