Aspects of conducting a forensic commodity examination of sunflower oil

Abstract

Vegetable oil production has been growing steadily, driven by increased consumption, including industrial consumption, and by producers developing the production of oils from fruits, nuts and grains. In this regard, there is a need for constant examination of vegetable oils, including the development of new testing methods, finding ways to improve the quality and safety of this product, and preventing the entry of falsified vegetable oil into the Ukrainian market. When conducting an examination of vegetable oils, the following research goals are determined: identification of the type of vegetable oil; methods of falsification and methods of their detection. Assortment falsification in vegetable oils is of the following types: re-grading is widespread, with highly refined vegetable oils being substituted for unrefined and technical oils most often. Also, more valuable types of oils: corn, sunflower can be replaced with low-value (soybean, cottonseed, rapeseed, etc.). Moreover, in a refined form, when specific aromatic and coloring substances have been removed, it is almost impossible to distinguish one oil from another by organoleptic indicators. It is possible to establish the origin of the oil only with physical and chemical parameters, in particular the composition of fatty acids. Quality falsification of vegetable oils can be carried out in the following ways: violation of production technology, violation of recipe composition, violation of purification (refining) technology.

The article reveals the possibility of conducting a forensic examination of vegetable oil, considers the types of sunflower oil in terms of organoleptic, physicochemical and safety characteristics. The procedure for conducting the examination has also been considered. The article outlines the problems of falsification of vegetable oils, conducting commodity research, identifying commodity properties of vegetable oils, their technological features during forensic examination. Recommendations on quality control of castor oil for participants of foreign economic activity, expert organisations and consumers have been provided.