A REVOLUTIONARY technique for verifying the authenticity of a wide range of foods has been launched by a York company before being rolled out worldwide.

The British Pig Executive, Associated Beef producers (ABP), and two of the five major supermarkets have already signed up to it.

Stable Isotope Reference Analysis (SIRA) has a background in forensic science and archaeology and uses laboratory analysis to test the declared origin of food.

It accurately and cost-effectively tests the country of origin for a wide range of meat and grocery products – including pork, beef, eggs, vegetables and fruit – which have either been grazed or grown on the land.

Agroisolab UK, a subsidiary of Longhand Data Ltd of York, has developed the technique with German company, Agroisolab GmbH, over eight years.

The York company has six staff, including two scientists and, with its German counterpart, will test up to 200 samples a week.

The 'horse-gate' food scandal focused the attention of retailers on being able to irrefutably confirm the nature of the products they buy.

SIRA measures naturally-occurring stable isotopes of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sulphur and strontium, which are found in all living things and which are virtually site specific.

EU countries now face more extensive mandatory country of origin labelling (COOL) requirements including, for meat products, the rearing period and place of slaughter. Food processors and retailers can face significant fines for breaches.

Roger Young, biologist and former corporate farmer, is managing director of Longhand Data Ltd.

He said: "When we buy meat or other products, we have a legal right to know that what we are buying is correctly labelled. To knowingly misrepresent or give false declaration of origin, can be a criminal offence. Involving the law often means that the retailer and supplier end up in court which is hugely damaging to customer confidence and their brand values.

"The 'horse-gate' scandal showed that paperwork can be fooled. Laboratory analysis to authenticate the origin of food is accurate, hard to subvert, faster and more cost-effective than conventional traceability processes.

“We already have major industry bodies such as The British Pig Executive (BPEX), part of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB), signed up. We also have a contract with Associated Beef Producers (ABP) and are well on the way to building the biggest UK beef database. We are contracted to two of the five major supermarkets."

Harrowells Solicitors of York have handled the legal work for the new company, including shareholder arrangements, negotiations with Agroisolab GmbH and creating agency and transitional service agreements as the service rolls out worldwide.

Susie Mortonson, Harrowells partner who carried out the work with regulatory specialist, Matthew Rowley, said: "Agroisolab is set to deliver huge benefits to the global food sector and consumers. We’re pleased to have been involved with such a significant development, especially as we already have a major presence in the regional agriculture sector."

Harrowells offers a wide range of legal services to commercial, farming and private clients. The firm has three offices in York and others in Pocklington, Easingwold and Thirsk.