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Authentication of Indonesian Coconut Sugar Using Stable Carbon Isotopes

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Abstract

Indonesian coconut sugar (n = 109 samples) from different local producers was analyzed over a 2-year period. A mean δ13C value of − 25.6‰ ± 0.4‰ was determined for unadulterated (pure) coconut sugar. Seasonal climatic differences of up to ± 0.4‰ increase the standard deviations of coconut sugar (− 25.6‰ ± 0.8‰). Up to 5% w/v of cane sugar is often added during production for seeding purposes which could increase the final coconut sugar δ13C values by up to 0.7‰. Excess C4 sugar (cane or corn sugar) was suggested in 31 coconut sugar samples due to more positive δ13C values (> − 24.8‰). More negative coconut sugar δ13C values (< − 26.4‰) may indicate additives, such as mangosteen sap, commonly used to prevent fermentation of the sugar syrup. A maximum acceptable δ13C value of − 24.1‰ for coconut sugar is proposed which cumulatively accounts for climatic variability and accepted industry seeding practices.

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Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks are due to Dr. Landis W. Doner for helpful comments and insights for the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, 30 Gracefield Road, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand

    Karyne M Rogers, Andy Phillips, Joan Fitzgerald, Pam Rogers, Chris Ferguson & Jannine Cooper

  2. Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China

    Karyne M Rogers & Yuwei Yuan

Authors
  1. Karyne M Rogers
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  2. Andy Phillips
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  3. Joan Fitzgerald
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  4. Pam Rogers
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  5. Chris Ferguson
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  6. Jannine Cooper
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  7. Yuwei Yuan
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Contributions

Karyne Rogers: conceptualization, data visualization and writing; Andy Phillips: quality control, sample analysis, supervision and review; Joan Fitzgerald: sample analysis and review; Pam Rogers: sample analysis; Chris Ferguson: sample analysis and review; Jannine Cooper: data curation, sample analysis and review; Yuwei Yuan: review.

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Correspondence to Karyne M Rogers or Yuwei Yuan.

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The authors declare this research was not undertaken using human participants and/or animals, so informed consent is not applicable.

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Rogers, K.M., Phillips, A., Fitzgerald, J. et al. Authentication of Indonesian Coconut Sugar Using Stable Carbon Isotopes. Food Anal. Methods 14, 1250–1255 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-021-01967-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-021-01967-9

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