Uncovering Hidden, Unwanted Contents in Food-Species ID Testing as the Industry’s and Consumer’s Ultimate Solution

As its name indicates, “DNA testing” cannot determine if the disease causing agents present in food are proteinous. However, by determining the presence of their animal carriers, consumers could, by their choice, avoid consuming food that contains these carrier animals. DNA testing of animal feed could also ensure that only permitted substances are included in the feed product.

Testing for Endangered Species

One notable use of AS in food has come from environmental protection groups. In September 1994, an article published in the scientific journal, Science brought to light a survey on processed whale meat on sale in Japan.7 The group responsible for the research, Earthtrust, had sent a researcher to carry out DNA testing to determine whether processed whale meat, as found in tins on the supermarket shelves, was from endangered species such as humpback and fin whales and so prohibited under the International Whaling Commission rules, or from species which could be legitimately hunted. This study showed that not only endangered whales, but also small cetaceans such as dolphins, were being sold as legitimate whale meat in the supermarkets of Japan. The study moreover demonstrated that wildlife products could be traced not just back to the species, but also to the area of origin, subspecies, sex and lineage. Thus, the animals could be relatively precisely “identified” and were not considered to be of endangered species legitimately captured for research purposes (which are permitted to be later put on the market as meat). Later Japanese studies had less incriminating results, however the danger that some consumers have raised as concerns include the fact that many small cetaceans are highly toxic due to contamination of their meat with heavy metals from pollution of the sea. Since this time, DNA testing has become more widespread in endangered species surveillance, and is now also used by U.S. agencies along the coast of Florida, checking the species of origin of sharks’ fins intended for soup bowls in Asia.8

Testing for Unwanted Animal or Plant Species in Religious Foods Organized DNA testing and surveillance may assist those of certain religions, especially those living in multifaith communities, to adhere to the dietary rules or guidelines of their faith.

Muslims make up around a fifth of the world’s population and can only eat meat designated, “Halal.” This means that meat is from animals, raised on a vegetarian diet, which have been slaughtered in a particular way by a Muslim in the name of Allah. DNA testing conducted would show if a (protein-enriched) vegetarian animal feed was really what it said on the packet. Used for a whole range of human consumables, this type of AS testing could encourage safer farming and food production, and deter rogue, unsafe or casual practices. Hindu (no beef, and in some upper castes, no mushrooms, leeks, onions or garlic), Judaism (no pork, no mixing of dairy and meat products), Islam (no pork), and those on strict vegetarian or vegan diets may be aided by AS as well.

Of course DNA testing has no role in the verification of slaughter methods so crucial to Jewish and Muslim communities; however it can aid in the detection of bogus Halal or Kosher certification through the detection of prohibited animal products, including in apparently vegetarian articles such as ice cream, (which may contain mono- and di-glycerides as emulsifiers), bread, cookies and toothpaste. The source of the enzyme rennet used in cheese-making, and gelatin found in marshmallows and in many other products such as yogurt, might also be detected this way. This is because the purification techniques used when obtaining these additives will rarely exclude the DNA of the organism from which the protein or fatty acid was taken, so that a small amount of DNA will be present in the finished foodstuff. Fifty-four countries of the world are Muslim and many of these accept Halal food imports from other non-Muslim countries. DNA testing can hence aid in the verification of these products.

DNA Testing as the Ultimate Solution to Uncovering Hidden Contents

From the surveillance of meat products, processed foods to wildlife protection, we could see that the potential uses of species ID is wide and yet to be explored. The issue here remains that most consumers want to know that what he or she has purchased is actually what it purports to be, and that manufacturers, importers and exporters would also like to ensure what they sell is safe for consumers and that the products could go through the customs smoothly to be delivered on time. Food testing agencies will continue to ensure that the food products sold are free from adulteration with other meats of unspecified species and place of origin unless clearly stated on the label. Therefore, food manufacturers should consider utilizing the most sensitive and reliable tool to ensure the quality of their products from sourcing to marketing.

References:

1. Brown P, Bradley R. 1755 and all that: a historical primer of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. BMJ, 1998: 317 (7174); 1688-92.
2. http://www.defra.gov.org.uk/animalh/bse/ index.html
3. http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/ health/bse/he_slaughter.html
4. http://www.defra.gov.org/animalh/bse/animal-health/feedbanguide.pdf
5. http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/controls/feedfood/bse_feed_en.htm
6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/ panorama/3035139.stm
7. Baker CS and Palumbi SR, Which Whales Are Hunted? A Molecular Genetic Approach to Monitoring Whaling. Science, 1994: 265; 1538-39.
8. Clarke SC, Magnussen JE, Abercrombie DL, McAllister MK, Shivji MS. Identification of shark species composition and proportion in the Hong Kong shark fin market based on molecular genetics and trade records. Conserv. Biol. 2006: 20; 201-11.

Terence L.T. LAU, Ph.D. is the chief scientific officer and general manager at HKDNA Chips Limited (Hong Kong). Reach him at [email protected] or (852) 2111-2123.