Meat Examinations

Safeguarding consumer trust and preventing food fraud are paramount concerns within the food industry. Specifically, misrepresentation of meat and meat product species can result in fraudulent items entering the market, thereby jeopardizing public health.

What is Meat Species Identification?

Meat species identification is a scientific analytical procedure employed to ascertain the animal species source of meat in both raw and processed meat products. These analyses serve to:

• verify the accuracy of the animal species declared on the product label,
• detect the presence of other or prohibited animal species,
• and safeguard food safety and consumer rights.

Meat species identification can be conducted on both finished products and raw materials.

Why is Meat Species Identification Necessary?

• Prevention of Food Fraud: It prevents the adulteration with cheaper or ethically questionable animal species.
• Enhancement of Consumer Trust: It scientifically substantiates the congruence between product labeling and actual content.
• Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: It ensures adherence to the Turkish Food Law and international regulations.
• Verification of Halal and Vegan Products: Species identification is particularly critical for halal, kosher, or vegan products.
• Safeguarding against Allergens and Religious Sensitivities: It verifies the ingredients of products chosen by consumers based on religious, ethical, or health considerations.

How is Meat Species Identification Conducted?

Within a state-of-the-art laboratory environment, species identification is performed utilizing the following methodologies:

1. DNA-based Methods (PCR Analysis)

This represents the most prevalent and dependable method. Utilizing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), DNA is isolated from the sample and subsequently analyzed for species-specific gene regions.

2. Real-Time PCR Method (qPCR)

This method facilitates rapid and precise analysis, allowing for the simultaneous determination of multiple species.

3. ELISA Method

This method allows for meat species identification through protein-based analyses. However, it exhibits lower sensitivity compared to DNA-based analysis.

Species identification tests can be applied to a wide range of products, from raw meat to processed products (sausages, salami, meatballs, canned goods, etc.).

Our Offerings

• Detection of Poultry Meat: ELISA-TEK- Cooked Poultry Species Kit
• Detection of Porcine DNA: Kit Method (Analytikjena, InnuDETECT Pork Assay), Kit Method (DNeasy Mericon Food Kit QIAGEN)
• Detection of Ovine DNA: Kit Method (Bosphore Species Identification Kit Sheep v1), Kit Method (Magrev Tissue Genomic DNA Extraction Kit, Anatolia
• geneworks)
• Detection of Caprine DNA: Kit Method (Bosphore Species Identification Kit Goat v1), Kit Method (Magrev Tissue Genomic DNA Extraction Kit, Anatolia geneworks)
• Detection of Chicken DNA: Kit Method (KOGENEBIOTECH, PowerChek Chicken species Real-time PCR Kit with EPC), Kit Method (DNeasy Mericon Food Kit QIAGEN)
• Bovine DNA Detection: Kit Method (Bosphore, Species Identification Kit Bovine), Kit Method (DNeasy Mericon Food Kit QIAGEN/Tissue Genomic DNA Extraction Kit)
• Fish DNA Detection: Kit Method (Bosphore, Species Identification Kit Fish), Kit Method (DNeasy Mericon Food Kit QIAGEN/Tissue Genomic DNA Extraction Kit)
• Equine DNA Detection: Kit Method (Bosphore, Species Identification Kit Horse), Kit Method (DNeasy Mericon Food Kit QIAGEN)
• Detection of Donkey DNA: Kit Method (Bosphore Species Identification Kit Horse-Donkey), Kit Method (DNeasy Mericon Food Kit QIAGEN)