Metabolic Characterization of Caviar Specimens by 1H NMR Spectroscopy: Towards Caviar Authenticity and Integrity

The specific metabolic profile of aqueous extracts of caviar samples (n = 91) originating from producers in the Aquitaine region in France was determined using H-1 NMR spectroscopy. This metabolic profile was used to develop multivariate statistical models (Soft Independent Modeling by Class Analogy (SIMCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA)) for the purpose of differentiating the Aquitaine production from other productions. The main purpose of these models is to help Aquitaine producers establish a protected geographical indication (PGI) to protect their know-how in caviar production from aquaculture. The parameters characterizing both the OPLS-DA and the SIMCA models were quite satisfactory, and the analysis of blind test samples with the two models provided a good level of discrimination between Aquitaine caviars and other caviars. The same NMR metabolic profile could also be used to provide an estimation of the freshness of caviar samples and define a shelf life for caviar cans. The first characterization of the different metabolites detected in caviar specimens by H-1 NMR spectroscopy is also presented. The statistical models obtained could be used to prevent counterfeiting of Aquitaine caviar and guarantee an adequate level of freshness.