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Fake marzipan targeted in science study

Marzipan cake courtesy of Ranveig via Wikipedia

HAMBURG, Germany, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- German researchers say they've adapted crime scene technology to determine whether bakers are sneaking fake marzipan into their holiday confections.

Marzipan is a paste made from ground almonds and sugar that plays an integral role in many of Germany's holiday sweets, Christmas stollen -- a sugar-covered cake that includes dried fruit -- and sculpted Santa figures. The cost of almonds, however, has led some manufacturers to substitute ground-up peach seeds, soybeans or peas in the mixture.

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Researchers at the University of Hamburg were able to put their finger on the fakes by adapting the polymerase chain reaction to test various marzipan concoctions. The researchers, whose findings were published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, said PCR allowed them to detect small amounts of an almond substitute.

The research was funded by the German Confectionery Industry, the chemical society said Wednesday in a release.

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