Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Sheep and goat milk authenticity is of great importance, especially for countries like Greece, where these products are connected to the country’s rural economy and cultural heritage. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometric techniques for the classification of cow, sheep, and goat milk and consequently support fraud identification. A total of 178 cow, sheep and goat milk samples were collected from livestock farms in Thessaly, Greece. Sheep and goat milk samples were confirmed as authentic by applying a validated Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), while all samples were analyzed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in both raw and freeze-dried form. Freeze-dried samples exhibited clearer spectral characteristics, particularly enhancing the signals from triglycerides, proteins, and carbohydrates. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) delivered robust discrimination. By using the spectral range between 600 and 1800 cm−1, 100% correct classification of all milk types was achieved. These findings highlight the potential of FTIR spectroscopy as a fast, non-destructive, and cost-effective tool for milk identification and species differentiation. This method is particularly suitable for industrial and regulatory applications, offering high efficiency.
Source: Sci
DOI: 10.3390/sci7030087
Institutions: University of Thessaly, Agricultural University of Athens
Language: English
Subfield: Analytical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,448
Funder: University of Thessaly
OpenAlex ID: W4411928814