Marzipan or persipan? - We bring clarity with digital PCR
At GeneCon International GmbH, we are currently developing an innovative detection method based on digital PCR (dPCR) to clearly distinguish marzipan from persipan - quickly, precisely and reliably.
Why is this important?
Although marzipan and persipan are similar in appearance and taste, they differ significantly in their composition - and therefore also in their value, quality and labelling requirements:
- Marzipan is made from high-quality almonds
- Persipan is based on cheaper apricot or peach kernels
Correct labelling plays a central role for manufacturers, inspection authorities and consumers: it protects against deception, ensures product quality and strengthens consumer confidence. For high-quality products in particular, it is crucial to know whether real marzipan has been used - or whether persipan has been used as a substitute.
Once development is complete, our planned dPCR method should be able to reliably distinguish even the slightest traces of DNA from the respective raw materials. The method is
- extremely sensitive and specific
- robust against interfering substances in the matrix
- and enables absolute quantification without standard curves
With this development, we would like to make a further contribution to food safety, quality assurance and transparency in the confectionery industry.
GeneCon - Innovative analysis for honest food.
