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Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are complex mixtures of persistent contaminants present throughout the aquatic food web. In this study 122 farmed and 11 wild salmon samples were collected over the course of four years (2014–2017). The ratio of short-chain CP and medium-chain CP and the corresponding homologue patterns were determined by means of gas chromatography (GC) with high resolution, accurate mass Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) technology. Characteristic patterns were observed, enabling differentiation between European and non-European (Chilean) samples. Concentration ranges of short-chain CPs (0.97–170 ng/g ww) and medium-chain CPs (1.1–79 ng/g ww) were similarly widespread over three orders of magnitude. Yet, both the mean and median concentrations of MCCPs were usually higher than those of the SCCP. CP levels were generally higher than those of marker polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs). An age- and gender-dependent estimated intake range of 4.6–35 ng/kg bw/week for short and medium-chain CPs via the consumption of salmon was calculated for adults in Germany. Image 1 • 133 salmon samples (2014–2017, German market) were analysed on chloroparaffins (CPs). • CP homologue patterns showed clear differences between sample origins. • CP levels were higher than those of marker PCBs and HBCDDs. • SCCP and MCCP levels indicated shift towards MCCPs in Europe. • The weekly CP intake for German adults via salmon consumption was estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs, MCCPs) are high-production volume industrial chemicals that have been previously reported to occur in food, packaging material and the environment. This study presents an assessment of dietary exposure for consumers in Southern Germany based on three different sampling approaches: (i) a classical market basket study (n = 154), (ii) the analysis of ready-made meals from restaurants (n = 10), and (iii) a total diet approach (n = 21). In 35% of the samples, CPs were below the method limit of quantification. Highest amounts of SCCPs and MCCPs were found especially in extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) and fish. Homologue patterns indicated the partial removal of CPs during the refining of (other) edible oils. Ready-made meals contained only low amounts of CPs equal to estimations based on market basket samples. Total diet samples from the same hospital were generally comparable with each other regardless of diet, although vegetarian meal plans with high amounts of cheese and other dairy products contained up to an order of magnitude more CPs than other diets. Taking all approaches into account, calculated daily exposures for adults ranged 35-420 ng/kg bw/day for ΣSCCPs and 22-840 ng/kg bw/day for ΣMCCPs, which is between one and two orders of magnitude higher than the current dietary intake of polychlorinated biphenyls (indicator PCBs) in Europe., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Truffles ( Tuber spp.) are considered the most expensive edible fungi and, therefore, are highly prone to food fraud. In this study, authentic truffles from different countries of origin and species were characterized by the determination of their stable carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen isotope ratios (bulk δ 2 H, δ 13 C, and δ 15 N values). Chinese truffles from Yunnan or related provinces ( n = 19) could be well-separated from all European samples (eight countries; n = 105) by means of their significantly ( p < 0.05) more negative δ 2 H values. Furthermore, samples of the second most expensive European species Tuber magnatum were both more enriched in 15 N and more depleted in 13 C compared to the remaining samples, which allowed for an unequivocal differentiation. Hence, stable isotope ratio analysis could be of high value in terms of authentication of truffles.

The increasing demand of valuable truffles ( Tuber sp.) has prompted new areas of naturally growing truffles entering the market. Hence, the identification of valueless Tuber species is an important task to prevent food fraud. Here, we show that sterol patterns are suited to differentiate five Tuber species ( Tuber magnatum , Tuber melanosporum , Tuber aestivum , Tuber albidum , and Tuber indicum varieties) from each other. Next to the known main sterols of Tuber , ergosterol and brassicasterol, occurrence of minor sterols in differing shares resulted in characteristic fingerprints in the five Tuber species, irrespective of the country of origin. A total of 27 sterols were evaluated, and we proposed assignment criteria of main sterol relations as well as eight distinct biomarkers within the minor compounds for the differentiation of European and Chinese truffles.