Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products

Substituting high commercial-value meats with similar cheaper or undesirable species is a common form of food fraud that raises ethical, religious, and dietary concerns. Measures to monitor meat substitution are being put in place in many developed countries. However, information about similar effor...

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Main Authors: Njaramba, Jane K., Wambua, Lillian, Mukiama, T., Amugune, N.O., Villinger, J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116687
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author Njaramba, Jane K.
Wambua, Lillian
Mukiama, T.
Amugune, N.O.
Villinger, J.
author_browse Amugune, N.O.
Mukiama, T.
Njaramba, Jane K.
Villinger, J.
Wambua, Lillian
author_facet Njaramba, Jane K.
Wambua, Lillian
Mukiama, T.
Amugune, N.O.
Villinger, J.
author_sort Njaramba, Jane K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Substituting high commercial-value meats with similar cheaper or undesirable species is a common form of food fraud that raises ethical, religious, and dietary concerns. Measures to monitor meat substitution are being put in place in many developed countries. However, information about similar efforts in sub-Saharan Africa is sparse. We used PCR coupled with high-resolution melting (PCR-HRM) analysis targeting three mitochondrial genes—cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1), cytochrome b (cyt b), and 16S rRNA—to detect species substitution in meat sold to consumers in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of 107 meat samples representing seven livestock animals, 11 (10.3%) had been substituted, with the highest rate being observed in samples sold as goat. Our results indicate that PCR-HRM analysis is a cost- and time-effective technique that can be employed to detect species substitution. The combined use of the three mitochondrial markers produced PCR-HRM profiles that successfully allowed for the consistent distinction of species in the analysis of raw, cooked, dried, and rotten meat samples, as well as of meat admixtures. We propose that this approach has broad applications in the protection of consumers against food fraud in the meat industry in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya, as well as in developed countries.
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spelling CGSpace1166872025-08-15T13:22:14Z Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products Njaramba, Jane K. Wambua, Lillian Mukiama, T. Amugune, N.O. Villinger, J. meat food safety Substituting high commercial-value meats with similar cheaper or undesirable species is a common form of food fraud that raises ethical, religious, and dietary concerns. Measures to monitor meat substitution are being put in place in many developed countries. However, information about similar efforts in sub-Saharan Africa is sparse. We used PCR coupled with high-resolution melting (PCR-HRM) analysis targeting three mitochondrial genes—cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1), cytochrome b (cyt b), and 16S rRNA—to detect species substitution in meat sold to consumers in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of 107 meat samples representing seven livestock animals, 11 (10.3%) had been substituted, with the highest rate being observed in samples sold as goat. Our results indicate that PCR-HRM analysis is a cost- and time-effective technique that can be employed to detect species substitution. The combined use of the three mitochondrial markers produced PCR-HRM profiles that successfully allowed for the consistent distinction of species in the analysis of raw, cooked, dried, and rotten meat samples, as well as of meat admixtures. We propose that this approach has broad applications in the protection of consumers against food fraud in the meat industry in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya, as well as in developed countries. 2021-12-13 2021-12-14T10:12:06Z 2021-12-14T10:12:06Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116687 en Open Access MDPI Njaramba, J.K., Wambua, L., Mukiama, T., Amugune, N.O. and Villinger, J. 2021. Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products. Foods 10: 3090.
spellingShingle meat
food safety
Njaramba, Jane K.
Wambua, Lillian
Mukiama, T.
Amugune, N.O.
Villinger, J.
Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products
title Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products
title_full Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products
title_fullStr Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products
title_full_unstemmed Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products
title_short Detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high-resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial PCR products
title_sort detection of species substitution in the meat value chain by high resolution melting analysis of mitochondrial pcr products
topic meat
food safety
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116687
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