Front Cover: Isotopic Characterization of Italian Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Intended for Food Use: A First Exploratory Study

Cover Story: Nowadays, due to the increasing attention paid to healthy food and alternative diets, the consumption of hemp-flour-based products, hemp seeds and oil is spreading widely. The substantial growth of the hemp market necessitates guidelines for hemp cultivation that guarantee its value, origin and quality. This study determined the specific stable isotope ratio ranges of five bioelements (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O and δ34S) in Italian industrial hemp intended for food use, setting the groundwork for the first isotopic database for this little-investigated high-value crop. Research findings corroborate the reliability of using light stable isotope ratios to characterize origin and types of fertilization of Cannabis sativa cultures, paving the way for future studies on the authentication and traceability of hemp-derived food products and the verification of their organic labeling.