Sigma Xi Spring Banquet

1. Sigma Xi Spring Banquet Forensic Microscopy Analyses of Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical Products Related to Suspected Tampering and Counterfeiting Presented by S. Frank Platek, MS Since the seven deaths related to the 1982 "Chicago Tylenol Tampering," the term "product tampering" has become a household phrase. The Federal Anti-Tampering Act of 1983 specifically identified acts of tampering as felonious. In 1989, the US Food and Drug Administration created the Forensic Chemistry Center (FCC) assigning the responsibility to analyze food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and medical devices suspected of product tampering, counterfeiting and fraud. As a few, of the FCC's investigative "tools", microscopy and microanalysis have been used to investigate cases ranging from accidental heavy metal poisoning of an expectant mother to deliberate sabotage of a company's product by disgruntled workers. Forensic microscopy was further used to develop methods to examine holes in retail product containers identifying a would-be extortionist to pharmaceutical vials assisting in the conviction of Indiana's suspected worst serial killer. In another case, a counterfeit infant formula operation believed to help finance foreign activities was uncovered. These case examples and others will be presented as examples of both forensic research and applied analytical techniques performed at the FDA's unique Forensic Chemistry Center. SEM photomicrograph unknown powder in suspected poisoning and resultant EDX elemental spectra indicating sodium selenite. Agenda 6:00 Reception 6:30 Dinner* 7:30 Speaker April 14 6:00-8:30 p.m.Steigerwald HallThomas More College *$15.00 per person. R.S.V.P. by April 8th to Dr. David Hogan hogan@nku.edu 859-572-5310