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.