Food Quality: Are You Eating What You Think You Are Eating? by Cole-Parmer
News in the last week has been saturated with reports from the UK on
the discovery of horse meat in products labeled as beef. Sold through
a complex series of wholesalers and middlemen, the meat ended up in
frozen dinners and meat products.
Now, concern has spread across Europe about sources of meat and the
products that contain it. According to a report out of Berlin, "DNA
tests have revealed that beef tainted with horse meat has made it into
supermarkets in 13 European Union nations. Store, schools, and
hospitals are scrambling to remove some meat. And there are calls for
tighter regulation of Europe's complex food chain." 1
While the precise origin of the alleged fraud is under investigation,
the scandal spotlights the potential for the food supply to be
contaminated with unexpected or unwanted substances.
London Reporters Clare Hutchison and Alice Baghdijian quoted David
Black, a Consumer Intelligence spokesman as declaring, "(Brands) will
have to put in place really stringent ways of checking what's being
delivered and what's on the label is indeed what's in there."2
How can this be done? Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method of
DNA testing in which a strand of DNA is amplified and replicated
through a series of temperature cycles. PCR requires the use of a
temperature stable DNA polymerase that replicates DNA through an
enzymatic process that also requires DNA primers, deoxynucleoside
triphosphates, and a suitable buffer solution. Gel electrophoresis is
then used to determine whether the DNA strands match those of known
size.
"DNA tests can determine what kind of animal meat is in your sandwich
or frozen dinner," states a report from DW, a German broadcaster. "The
technology for it is already present in many laboratories."3
In addition to identifying the DNA of food such as meat, milk,
cheese, and yogurt, the PCR process is also used in the criminal
justice system and paternity suits. Food testing using PCR technology
is considered more accurate and faster than some other methods
including traditional microbiological culture methods.
the discovery of horse meat in products labeled as beef. Sold through
a complex series of wholesalers and middlemen, the meat ended up in
frozen dinners and meat products.
Now, concern has spread across Europe about sources of meat and the
products that contain it. According to a report out of Berlin, "DNA
tests have revealed that beef tainted with horse meat has made it into
supermarkets in 13 European Union nations. Store, schools, and
hospitals are scrambling to remove some meat. And there are calls for
tighter regulation of Europe's complex food chain." 1
While the precise origin of the alleged fraud is under investigation,
the scandal spotlights the potential for the food supply to be
contaminated with unexpected or unwanted substances.
London Reporters Clare Hutchison and Alice Baghdijian quoted David
Black, a Consumer Intelligence spokesman as declaring, "(Brands) will
have to put in place really stringent ways of checking what's being
delivered and what's on the label is indeed what's in there."2
How can this be done? Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method of
DNA testing in which a strand of DNA is amplified and replicated
through a series of temperature cycles. PCR requires the use of a
temperature stable DNA polymerase that replicates DNA through an
enzymatic process that also requires DNA primers, deoxynucleoside
triphosphates, and a suitable buffer solution. Gel electrophoresis is
then used to determine whether the DNA strands match those of known
size.
"DNA tests can determine what kind of animal meat is in your sandwich
or frozen dinner," states a report from DW, a German broadcaster. "The
technology for it is already present in many laboratories."3
In addition to identifying the DNA of food such as meat, milk,
cheese, and yogurt, the PCR process is also used in the criminal
justice system and paternity suits. Food testing using PCR technology
is considered more accurate and faster than some other methods
including traditional microbiological culture methods.
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