Multi-element analysis for determining the geographical origin of mutton from different regions of China

Elemental fingerprints were investigated for their potential to classify mutton samples according to their geographical origin. The concentration of 25 element contents in 99 mutton samples from three pastoral regions and two agricultural regions of China were analysed by ICP-MS. Multivariate statistical analysis including principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminate analysis (LDA) were used for this purpose. Twenty-one elements (Be, Na, Al, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Sb, Ba, Tl, Pb, Th and U) in de-fatted mutton showed significant differences (p < 0.05). LDA gave an overall correct classification rate of 93.9% and cross-validation rate of 88.9%. Furthermore, mutton samples from agricultural regions and pastoral regions were differentiated with 100% accuracy. These results demonstrate the usefulness of multi-element fingerprints as indicators for authenticating the geographical origin of mutton in China.