|
Testing authenticity A new approach was devised to help exporters, importers and manufacturers screen basmati rice products to assure their authenticity. It involved evaluating and applying automated, state-of the - art DNA extraction and detection methods with an existing DNA amplificatiomethod. Thehe approach can be used as a cost-effective screen for common non-basmati varieties such as Sherbati and Pusa Sughanda, and was launched as a service to industry. In a separate initiative, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) adopted our lab-on-a-chip based DNA profiling assay for surveillance of authenticity of fish from catering outlets. This followed successful transfer of the approach to government control laboratories, as part of which we were commissioned to train ten public analyst laboratories in the system. During 2007, projects were also initiated on DNA-based authenticity testing of fruit juices, dairy products and exotic meats such as venison, buffalo and wilboar. Thesese projects were the latest in a successful series, in which DNA-based methods had been developed and applied for assessing authenticity of a wide range of ingredients and products including other meat species, various fresh, frozen and canned fish, gum additives, olive oil and nut species, and detection of genetically modified material. The work, funded by CCFRA members and the Food Standards Agency, has involved collaboration with food companies, molecular biology equipment suppliers and universities, to bring the most appropriate and powerful approaches to bear on issues of concern to industry and enforcement authorities. Contact: Steve Garrett |