ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

Elemental and Microscopic Analysis in the 1993 Soft Drink/Syringe Product Tampering Incidents
Heitkemper, DT
National Forensic Chemistry Center, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, OH

Wolnik, KA
National Forensic Chemistry Center, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, OH

Platek, SF
National Forensic Chemistry Center, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, OH

(Received 21 October 1994; accepted 17 November 1994)

Abstract

Throughout the summer of 1993, a large number of alleged product tamperings were reported to the US Food and Drug Administration concerning medical syringes and numerous other items found in carbonated soft drinks. In response to several of these claims, FDA's National Forensic Chemistry Center (NFCC) utilized microscopic and elemental analysis to help establish the veracity of the allegations. The techniques used include inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, stereoscopic light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. This report describes, in part, studies which were performed in response to some specific product tampering scenarios.

Keywords:
forensic science, elemental analysis, product tampering, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, stereoscopic light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis

Paper ID: JFS13847J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13847J
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