ON FRUIT AND BERRY RAW FALSIFICATION
Research studied the organoleptic, physico-chemical parameters and nutrient composition, and identified the profile of organic acids and the mineral composition of fruit and berry powders of strawberries, raspberries and melons of the trade mark SPIRULINAFOOD. It has been established that the color and aromatic ranges of the studied materials are unusual for the feedstock. The actual levels of proteins and lipids do not correspond to the positions declared by the manufacturer in the labeling and are not typical for processed raw materials. In all samples of sugar powders, 80-97 % is sucrose, and a high level of its content (40.4-52.3 %) indicates the presence of white sugar. The amount and ratio of organic acids do not correspond to the profile of natural raw materials. Thus, oxalic and tartaric acids are absent in strawberry powder, malic acid in raspberry raw materials, and citric acid in melon material. Strawberry powder does not contain such essential macro- and microelements as Ca2+, Mg2+, B3+, Co3+, the amount of Si2+, Fe2+, K+ is at the level of traces. Raspberry powder is devoid of Co3+, K+, and B3+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Si2+, important for plant life, are present in residual amounts. Melon powder lacks essential elements - K+, Fe2+, Ca2+, Co3+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, which does not correspond to the fundamental laws of plant physiology. Based on the results of physical and chemical tests of the studied raw materials, no deviations from the norms were revealed. When studying the levels of proteins and fats, informational falsification of strawberry, raspberry and melon powders of the SPIRULINAFOOD trademark was determined. The data obtained on the organoleptic quality assessment and identification of the profile of sugars, organic acids and mineral elements made it possible to conclude that the powders under study are not natural fruit and berry raw materials.