title: The use of multi element profiling to differentiate between cowand buffalo milk.
abstract: The multi element profile of milk from 12 cows and 6 water buffaloes was investigated, to establish whether dairy products derived from the two species could be distinguished. Multi-element data were obtained using ICP-MS. Following assessment against the team's QA/QC criteria, or where the levels were below the LOD for the procedure, 16 elements (P, S, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs and Ba) were submitted for statistical analysis. Using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) it was possible to differentiate between milk from the two species, produced under identical environmental and animal husbandry conditions, on one farm. The sources of food and water available for consumption by the animals were also analysed and the results showed that there was no correlation between the elemental composition of the dietary components and the profiles observed in the milk.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 12/C, I-87030 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy. Electronic address: cinzia.benincasa@entecra.it.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benincasa
authors.affiliation: Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York Y041 1LZ, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 12/C, I-87030 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sindona
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 12/C, I-87030 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagarelli
keywords: Authenticity; Buffalo; Cow; Food; ICP-MS; Milk; Statistical analysis; Trace elements