Authentication of an Italian PDO hazelnut ("Nocciola Romana") by NIR spectroscopy.

Common hazelnuts are widely present in human diet all over the world, and their beneficial effects on the health have been extensively investigated and demonstrated. Different in-depth researches have highlighted that the harvesting area can define small variations in the chemical composition of the fruits, affecting their quality. As a consequence, it has become relevant to develop methodologies which would allow authenticating and tracing hazelnuts.