The aim of the present study is to authenticate Grappa spirits and to develop a non-destructive methodology which would allow detecting possible adulteration (by less valuable spirits) on this product. Grappa is an Italian alcoholic drink obtained by distillation of grape marks which has recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) label.
An authentication study based on two different instrumental techniques, headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and mid-/near-infrared spectroscopies, was performed with a set of 75 samples representative of traditional Italian spirit “Grappa Geographical Indication (GI)” and other Italian spirits obtained by distillation of fruits or cereals. Chemometric classification methods were applied to the collected fingerprint profiles to build models which could allow differentiating GI Grappa from other distillates produced in the same geographical areas.
In recent years, the synthesis and introduction of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) into the illicit market has reached alarming levels. More than 730 compounds have been identified by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Among the newest NPS, synthetic opioids deserve special attention, in particular fentanyl and its analogues that in 2018 covered more than 70% of the world demand for opioids, with thousands of fatal events in USA.
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