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Our people-our expertise: Hans Yates

Our people-our expertise

Hans Yates

Qualifications | Research interests | Publications | Memberships

Hans is currently the Senior Chemist in the Food Chemistry laboratory of Public and Environmental Health. He works closely with public and environmental health units throughout the state, analysing food and beverages for harmful toxins, allergens and contaminants, as well as ensuring that the nutritional value of the food is as claimed, and up to Australian Standards.

The laboratory makes use of GC/MS, HPIC, HPIC/MS, HPLC, FTIR, IRMS, liquid handling robot and other classical food analysis techniques to ensure that samples received are thoroughly and expertly tested.

Always on the look-out for interesting and new foods, Hans has been involved in determining the mystery of the purple orange and the purple noodles, and is currently testing insect and hemp based protein sources for nutritional value and food safety.

Hans is currently undertaking a PhD at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, (QAAFI) University of Queensland.  The focus of his research is building methods and testing capability for atypical sugars and amino acids in foods and beverage products.

You can read an interview with Hans in Food Chemistry Advances here.
 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Chemistry), Queensland University of Technology
  • Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety, Central Queensland University
  • Diploma of Food Technology, TAFE Queensland

Research interests

  • Functional , traditional, new and novel foods
  • Food standards, analysis and technology

Publications

Isoardi KZ , Roberts DM , Holford AG, Brown JA,  Griffiths A, Soderstrom J, McDonald C , Gerostamoulos D, Sakrajda P, Turner C, Yates H, Gunja  N, Greene S. (2023) A cluster of acute thebaine poisonings from non-food grade poppy seeds in the Australian food supply. Clinical Toxicology, DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2023.2265053

Yates HSA, Carter JF, Hungerford NL, Fletcher MJ. (2023). Ion chromatography and ion chromatography / mass spectrometry as a complementary analysis technique for amino acid analysis in food, a review. Food Chemistry Advances. DOI: 10.1016/j.focha.2023.100415

Hungerford NL, Yates HSA, Smith TJ, Fletcher MJ. (2023). Organic acid profiles of Australian stingless bee honey samples determined by ion chromatography. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105466

Zhang J, Hungerford NL, Yates HSA, Smith TJ, Fletcher MJ. (2022). How is Trehalulose Formed by Australian Stingless Bees? - An Intermolecular Displacement of Nectar Sucrose. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01732

Zawawi N, Zhang J, Hungerford NL, Yates HSA, Webber DC, Farrell M, Tinggi U, Bhandari B, Fletcher MT. (2022). Unique physicochemical properties and rare reducing sugar trehalulose mandate new international regulation for stingless bee honey. Food Chemistry, 373 (Part B):131566. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131566

Hungerford NL, Zhang J, Smith TJ, Yates HSA, Chowdhury SA, Carter JF, Carpinelli de Jesus M, Fletcher MT, (2021). Feeding Sugars to Stingless Bees: Identifying the Origin of Trehalulose-Rich Honey Composition. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(35), 10292-10300. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c02859

Carter JF, Yates HSA, Tinggi U, (2015). A global survey of the stable isotope and chemical compositions of bottled and canned beers as a guide to authenticity. Science and Justice, 55(1) 18-26 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2014.05.002

Carter JF, Yates HSA, Tinggi U, (2015). Isotopic and Elemental Composition of Roasted Coffee as a Guide to Authenticity and Origin. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63(24) 5771-5779. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01526

Carter JF, Yates HSA, Tinggi U, (2015). Stable Isotope and Chemical Compositions of European and Australasian Ciders as a Guide to Authenticity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63(3) 975-982. DOI: 10.1021/jf5030054 

Presentations

Dec 2023: IC/PAD methods for amino acid analysis of fast-food meals, with Carter JF, Joseph A, Hungerford NL, Fletcher MT, In: RACI R&D Topics 2023 Conference, UNSW, Sydney.

July 2022: You are what you eat: a guide to food chemistry. In: Crop to Kitchen - new foods showcase 2022. FSS, Brisbane, Qld.

Hans Yates
Hans Yates

Senior Chemist, Organic Chemistry
email: Hans.Yates@health.qld.gov.au

phone: +61 7 3096 2982