Animal species testing: Quality control in food and feed

by Anke Bluth, Eurofins GeneScan, Germany

Species testing for constituents of animal origin plays an increasingly important role in the quality control of food and feed: For the feed industry for example, new EU regulations released in 2013 changed the testing requirements for feed, depending on the feed material and the class of animals it is intended for: different materials require different tests if they are intended for either ruminants, nonruminants, fish and aquaculture organisms or pet food.

Screening for mammals and birds

The new animal species testing service "DNAnimal Screen Tetrapod" detects mammal and bird DNA. This is important for example in the quality control of fish meal for feed use. This test can of course also be used for other purposes such as control for the presence of meat traces in vegetarian or vegan food.

Species authenticity and halal food

In 2013, the horse meat (lasagna) scandal raised awareness of the importance of authenticity testing of meat species. A large European testing programme was one of the consequences of this crisis, and many food companies started to test their products for traces not only of horse, but also of other animal species. The discovery of non-declared species also triggered a discussion about the quality control of food certified as "halal" for the Islamic community. This matter was of great concern in Europe, especially in France, and called on detection methods for "haraam" (forbidden) species.

In response to this call, Eurofins has just launched a new multiplex real-time PCR test called "DNAnimal Screen Halal" which detects pork, horse and donkey DNA simultaneously in various matrices, thus providing a secure and fast tool for the quality control of halal food.

Both methods are available as real-time PCR test kits for laboratories wishing to do their own animal species testing as well as an analytical service for offer within the food and feed producing industry. They complete the Eurofins animal species testing portfolio which already comprises other qualitative and semi-quantitative tests for cattle, goat, sheep, horse, pork, duck, chicken, turkey and fish species.

Contact: Anke Bluth, Eurofins GeneScan, Germany