FOOD industry scares such as the horsemeat scandal could be a thing of the past thanks to scientific testing being carried out by a new York-based company.

Agroisolab is this month launching a new food testing technique, known as Stable Isotope Reference Analysis (SIRA) from its base in Welburn, ahead of the method being rolled out world wide.

The new company is a subsidiary of of Longhand Data Ltd, York, which has been working for eight years with German company, Agroisolab GmbH, to develop SIRA as a high-volume method of accurately and cost-effectively testing the country of origin for a wide range of meat and grocery products.

The testing technique, which is derived from practices uses in forensic science and archeology, uses laboratory analysis to test the declared origin of food, and is being launched commercially in York with legal support from Harrowells Solicitors.

Agroisolab UK and Agroisolab GmbH will deliver SIRA authentication by measuring naturally-occurring stable isotopes of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sulphur and strontium, which are found in all living things and have ratios, which are location specific.

Following the adoption of the European Union Food Information Regulation 1069/2011 (FIR), EU countries face more extensive mandatory country of origin labelling requirements including, for meat products, the rearing period and place of slaughter and food processors and retailers can face significant fines for breaches.

Longhand Data Ltd managing director Roger Young said: "When we buy meat or other products, we have a legal right to know that what we are buying is correctly labelled.

"To knowingly misrepresent or give false declaration of origin, can be a criminal offence.

"The ‘horse-gate’ scandal showed that paperwork can be fooled. Laboratory analysis to authenticate the origin of food is accurate, hard to subvert, faster and more cost-effective than conventional traceability processes.

"We already have major industry bodies such as The British Pig Executive, part of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board, signed up.

"We also have a contract with Associated Beef Producers and are well on the way to building the biggest UK beef database. We are contracted to two of the five major supermarkets too."

Legal work by Harrowells, which has three offices in York, and others in Pocklington, Easingwold and Thirsk, included putting shareholder arrangements in place for the new company, involving negotiations with Agroisolab GmbH and creating agency and transitional services agreements as the service is rolled out worldwide.

Harrowells partner, Susie Mortonson, who carried out the Agroisolab UK work with regulatory specialist, Matthew Rowley, said: "Agroioslab is set to deliver huge benefits to the global food sector and consumers.

"We’re pleased to have been involved with such a significant development, especially as we already have a major presence in the regional agriculture sector."