Carob bean or guar: developing an anti-fraud methodology

Objective

European Directive (98/86/EC) presents an important gap in the technical description of procedure to distinguish between two food additives E-410 (carob bean) and E-412 (guar). This fact allows the fraud on the use and on the purity of specific additives by end users European companies are in a disadvantaged situation respecting Asian ones. The use of E-412 instead of E-410 affect directly to European market. The undetectable adulteration of carob bean gum batches with guar gum, affect to the price of the product. The adulteration (10-40%) causes reduction of the price of some batches(70-90%) of the real costs. The fraud supposes an illegal and uncontrolled competence against European companies. As consequence, the actual situation acts indirectly on sustainable growth of their employs. That is why is necessary the development of a new method capable to discriminate between both types of additives to give solution to this problem.

Programme(s)

FP5-GROWTH - Programme for research technological development and demonstration on "Competitive and sustainable growth 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

1.1.3.-6. - RTD Activities of a Generic Nature : Measurements and Testing

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

EAW - Exploratory awards

Coordinator

CAROB S.A.

Address

Gremi De Celleters 143
07141 Marratxinet
Spain

Participants (1)

GEL STAR IMPORT-EXPORT GMBH

Germany