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Manipulating Analytical Bias in GMO Quantification for Processed Foods by Adjusting PCR Amplicon Sizes
Kazuki Toyota1,2, Satoshi Noma1, Miwa Takahashi1
1Nisshin Seifun Group Inc, 5-3-1 Tsurugaoka, Fujimino, Saitama 356-8511, Japan.
Journal of AOAC International
|October 11, 2025
Summary
Using longer DNA targets in real-time PCR can overestimate genetically modified organism (GMO) content in processed foods. This method simplifies GMO labeling verification by analyzing processed foods directly, avoiding raw material analysis.
Area of Science:
- Food science
- Molecular biology
- Analytical chemistry
Background:
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are prevalent in food supply.
- Real-time PCR quantifies GMO content in raw materials for labeling verification.
- DNA fragmentation in processed foods complicates accurate GMO assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop a method to accurately assess GMO labeling suitability.
- Infer raw material GMO content from processed food analysis.
- Simplify GMO quantification in routine inspections.
Main Methods:
- Utilized model processed foods (heat-treated soybeans) with GM events.
- Employed taxon-specific real-time PCR with longer amplicons for GMO quantification.
- Analyzed DNA fragmentation impact on GMO content calculation.
Main Results:
- Calculated GMO content increased with amplicon length in PCR assays.
- Demonstrated artificial inflation of GMO content by modifying amplicon size.
- Observed overestimated GMO content in processed foods compared to raw materials when using longer amplicons.
Conclusions:
- Longer amplicons in PCR can lead to overestimation of GMO content in raw materials from processed food data.
- The method allows direct analysis of processed foods for GMO labeling appropriateness.
- This approach simplifies GMO quantification, reducing procedural complexity and eliminating the need for raw material analysis.
