Rapid visual detection of eight meat species using optical thin-film biosensor chips

Adulteration of meat products has become a very serious issue nowadays. To protect consumer rights, food labeling is required in many countries, and efficient and accurate detection methods are essential as well. This paper reports an innovative method for the rapid detection and identification of meat species based on a silicon-based optical thin-film biosensor chip with which color change results can be perceived by the naked eye without any expensive instruments. This biosensor system can simultaneously and specifically detect eight meat species, including deer, rabbit, duck, chicken, beef, horse, sheep, and pork. The absolute detection limit of this method was 0.5 pg of deer/beef DNA, and the practical detection limit was 0.001%. The biosensor detection can be completed within 30 min after PCR amplification. Therefore, this assay permits specific, sensitive, rapid, and simple detection of meat species in raw or cooked meat products.