Evaluating the Origin of Argentinean Milk by Multi Element and Isotopic Analysis

The aim of this work was to link the multi element and isotopic characteristics of soil, water and milk from the main production areas in Argentina. Authentic milk samples collected from four production areas were evaluated by measuring the concentration of 26 elements and the hydrogen (δ ²H), carbon (δ ¹³C), nitrogen (δ ¹⁵N) and oxygen (δ ¹⁸O) stable isotope composition. The geographic region of origin of the Argentinean milk samples could be discriminated by chemometric analysis of 16 selected variables; the concentration of Na, Mg, Al, V, Co, Ni, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Hg, the ratio K/Rb and the stable isotope values δ ²H, δ ¹⁸O, δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N). generalized procrustes analysis (GPA) showed good consensus between soil, water, and milk. Furthermore, GPA illustrated differences between studied areas. In addition, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) confirmed significant correlations between the measured parameters for milk and drinking water and between milk and soil. Currently, this approach looks promising to verify the regional geographical origin of Argentinean milk, establishing the link between different elements/ stable isotopes from soil and water into milk, which should prove useful in predicting the origin of milk produced in diverse regions from soil and water data. (author)