The forensic analysis of gastric contents has multiple applications, including identification of the gastric components and determination of the relationship between the deceased and a specific location where the food items were consumed or prepared, or both, possible determination of cause of death, and approximation of time of death. As part of a suspected homicide investigation, a sampling of the gastric contents from the victim was forwarded to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Forensic Chemistry Center for analysis of specific, selected components. The victim was known to have consumed string mozzarella cheese as a snack less than 24 hours before his disappearance and the subsequent discovery of the body. The investigation sought to confirm or dismiss speculation the victim may have been fed a meal or eaten additional food prior to his death. Analysis of the stomach contents involved processing and analysis of suspect materials by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Several wax-like, off-white to cream-colored objects were noted by SLM examination and removed from the gastric contents. Through a series of fixation, sectioning, drying, and coating steps, these objects were prepared for analysis by SEM. Comparison of the suspect material with laboratory control string mozzarella cheese showed excellent correlation between the analyzed samples, confirming the suspect material from the stomach contents as string mozzarella cheese. 3 figures and 8 references