DETERMINING THE DENTAL ORIGINS OF FOREIGN-BODIES IN FOODSTUFFS - APPLICATIONS OF A NEW MICROSCOPIC TECHNIQUE

The:use:of confocal optical microscopes is reported as a method for hi stologically identifying foreign bodies, alleged to be of dental origi n, found in:foodstuffs. This technique offers the advantages of allowi ng rapid evaluation of a sample, without causing its destruction due t o: the production of thin sections which are normally required for con ventional histology The system has been used to :identify fragments:of :dental origin, allegedly found by customers in foodstuffs which are m arketed by a major retail chain.