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News Release from: Spectroscopic and Analytical Developments | Subject: Brand Authenticator
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 03 November 2004
Detect fake alcohol brands in seconds
Counterfeit alcoholic drinks could soon be stamped out thanks to a revolutionary new development which can identify a fake brand in seconds
Spectroscopic and Analytical Developments (SAD) has announced what it describes as a major breakthrough in anti-counterfeiting equipment which will help the global drinks market tackle counterfeiting head-on The company's hand-held Brand Authenticator, initially developed for Diageo (producer of 40% of Scotland's whisky), has been adapted for use on other whiskies and spirits such as rum and brandy
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 6 Oct 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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John Ferguson, director of SAD, hails the easy to use, compact hand held device as a major development in fighting the global war against counterfeit alcohol - a trade which recent reports suggest is worth up to £500m per year globally.
"It takes detection of fakes out of the laboratory into the field and it provides accurate results in seconds.
"This is one of the major advantages of the system, the fact that it does away with the need for time-consuming and costly laboratory analysis, which can take up to two weeks".
The hand-held, battery-operated Brand Authenticator is said to provide almost instant proof on whether a bottle contains the correct brand or a fake in just 30 seconds.
SAD says it has put the device through rigorous tests over a period of many months and it has passed every one with flying colours.
"'We regard this as a really major breakthrough for the alcoholic drinks markets", says Ferguson.
"Whisky producers whether in Scotland, Ireland, or the USA can all use it to detect fakes and now we have proved it works on brandy and rum, too".
Trials have already been conducted in South America and Europe in addition to the UK.
Another big advantage of the Brand Authenticator is that it does not need a technical genius to operate it.
"Unskilled staff can easily handle it", says Ferguson.
And there is another significant advantage which Dr Ferguson highlights: "It is not just in financial terms where there is a need for positive action.
"Quite apart from the cost to the industry and to consumers in hard cash terms, investigations have revealed that some counterfeited drinks can be positively harmful to the health of those duped into buying them.
"We are convinced that the Brand Authenticator is the breakthrough the alcoholic drinks sector has been looking for in its on-going fight against the bootleggers", he concluded.
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