Discrimination of Korean beef from beef of other origin by stable isotope measurements

Beef samples from Korea and from some of the main beef exporting countries (USA, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand) were analysed for carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen isotope ratios of the defatted dried matter. Results showed that the samples from each country investigated could be assigned to a typical isotope signature and can be separated from each other. The main discriminating factors were delta(13)C and delta(2)H, which mainly reflect feeding of C(3) and C(4)-plants and the isotopic composition of the water, respectively, consumed by the cattle. Australian beef showed the largest variation in its isotopic signature, suggesting heterogeneous rearing conditions. By contrast, for beef from New Zealand, Mexico, USA and Korea, each batch had typical signatures with a smaller variability. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.