Securing food authenticity by translating triacylglycerol profiles of edible oils into a versatile identification method for pumpkin seed oil adulteration

Edible plant oils provide a crucial source of lipids for human nutrition. Owing to the complex processing of some high-quality variants, including Styrian pumpkin seed oil, edible plant oils have become susceptible to food fraud by adulteration with cheaper vegetable oils, compromising both authenticity and quality. To address this issue, a workflow was developed utilizing QTOF-MS/MS to search for triacylglycerol markers indicative of adulteration and subsequently adapted them for routine analysis using triple quadrupole MS/MS. By developing a transparent classification system utilizing a multi-feature triacylglycerol panel, reliable detection of adulteration down to 3 % (w/w) is possible. Calculating ratios of selected markers and establishing intervals derived from pure oils further enables easy scalability to adjust marker ratios and ensure robustness against permanent or seasonal changes. Our work aims to make advances towards a rapid and accurate detection of oil adulteration in food industry, crucial for maintaining customer trust and safety.