The aim of the priority action was to check compliance with food law regulations regarding the adulteration of coffee products from online retailers. Together with technical experts from the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), it was investigated whether coffee samples labelled "100% Arabica" were adulterated with other types of coffee "Robusta".

The examination of "food fraud" aspects is an important task of the BAVG. With regard to adulterated Arabica coffee, an analytical search is carried out for 16-O-methylcafestol. This molecule serves as a "marker" to distinguish "Robusta coffee" from "Arabica coffee". At values of over 20 mg/kg 16-O-methylcafestol, there is a strong suspicion that Arabica coffee has been adulterated with the more favourable Robusta coffee.

Result: None of the samples had to be rejected. Ten samples (five samples of ground coffee, five samples of capsules/pads) were taken online and analysed. No 16-O-methylcafestol could be detected in seven of the ten samples analysed. In two samples, 16-O-methylcafestol was detected below the limit of quantification. In one sample of ground Arabica highland coffee, a value of 16-O-methylcafestol was detected, which had to be evaluated with reference to the measurement uncertainty.

Further details can be found in the final report.