Applying COI Barcode to Identify Animal Origin of Food

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• DNA barcoding offers high resolution for species identification.
• Challenges exist in applying DNA barcoding to complex food matrices and supply chains.
• Robust methods are needed for accurate animal species tracing in food products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare different DNA barcode systems for tracing animal species in food.
• To establish a robust mini DNA barcoding method for diverse food types.
• To validate the method's efficacy in detecting mislabeled and mixed food products.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of various DNA barcode systems.
• Development of a mini DNA barcode targeting a 192 bp COI gene fragment.
• Application of cloning techniques for detecting low-level ingredients in mixed samples.
• Testing on raw, processed, and marketed food products from mammal, poultry, and fish.

Main Results:

• The mini DNA barcode system accurately identified animal species in raw and highly processed food samples.
• The method successfully detected as low as 10% of a target animal ingredient in mixed food samples.
• Testing on marketed products confirmed the mini barcoding method's ability to identify illegally mislabeled products.

Conclusions:

• A mini DNA barcode targeting a 192 bp COI gene fragment provides a robust solution for animal species tracing in food.
• This method is effective for both raw and highly processed foods, and for identifying adulteration in mixed products.
• The developed mini barcoding technique enhances food authenticity verification and combats fraudulent labeling.