DNA barcoding and mini-barcoding in authenticating processed animal-derived food: A case study involving the Chinese...

Area of Science:

• Food safety
• Molecular biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Food product authenticity is crucial for consumer trust and regulatory compliance.
• Mislabeling of animal-derived products is a global concern, impacting both consumers and industries.
• DNA barcoding offers a powerful tool for verifying species identification in food.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of mislabeling in animal-derived food products sold in China.
• To evaluate the efficacy of DNA mini-barcoding as a complementary method to standard DNA barcoding.
• To identify undeclared species in mislabeled food samples.

Main Methods:

• DNA barcoding using the cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) gene (~650 bp) and DNA mini-barcoding using the 16S rRNA gene (~220 bp) were employed.
• Fifty-two animal-derived food samples (meat, poultry, fish) were collected from various retail and online sources in China.
• Sequencing success rates and species identification were analyzed for both barcoding methods.

Main Results:

• DNA barcode sequences were successfully generated from 94% (49/52) of the samples.
• The standard COI barcode failed in 44% of cases, while the 16S rRNA mini-barcode succeeded in 87% of those failures.
• A significant mislabeling rate of 23% (12/52) was detected, with undeclared species frequently identified.

Conclusions:

• DNA mini-barcoding effectively complements standard DNA barcoding, especially in cases of degraded DNA or PCR inhibition.
• The high prevalence of mislabeling underscores the need for enhanced regulatory measures and continuous monitoring of animal-derived food products in the Chinese market.
• Ensuring accurate species labeling is essential for consumer protection and maintaining the integrity of the food supply chain.