Food Testing Lab Uses DNA Testing To Solve Mysteries

Aug. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- The DNA Analysis Laboratory at EMSL Analytical, Inc has undertaken a number of special projects or developed customer-tailored tests to support their food and beverage investigations. The areas involved include food safety and contaminants in food and beverages, including environmental health and exposure concerns.

Fish meat authentication is important for food supply companies. When they purchase large quantities of meat they want to insure they receive what they ordered and not some inferior or cheaper type of meat. EMSL is able to analyze and determine fish species by fish DNA barcode analysis. The FDA-recommended Fish DNA barcode analysis has certified fish meats from salmon, tilapia, tuna and others with 100% confidence.  The fish distributor clients were satisfied with the quality of the fish meats they purchased.

Rodent droppings can harbor pathogens and transmit them to humans. Sometimes it is hard to differentiate droppings from other materials or dirt. Suspected rodent dropping on a pizza were analyzed by EMSL for rat and mouse specific DNA. EMSL was able to confirm that the dropping were from a rat. On another project, animal droppings were found on the floor of a living room. The customer was concerned and did not know what made the droppings and suspected some small animal invaded her structure and left the droppings. DNA analysis showed that the droppings were neither from rat nor from mouse; indicating another small animal intruded in the house.

Foreign material contamination in food may be detected by visual examination. When foreign material is seen in food often the origin is investigated. EMSL received a project regarding hairs discovered in dried fruit. DNA analysis showed that the bundle of hairs were a mixture of human, dog, and cat hairs.

Fried food with tomato sauce is a common combination on restaurant menus. One day, a customer bought a box of fried shrimp and suspected that there were blood stains on it. The sample was tested using DNA STR analysis.  Testing by EMSL was able to show that indeed there was blood contamination. Apparently, the blood was from a male cook who did not know that his finger was injured and contaminated the food. The customer’s concern about blood borne pathogens led to a lawsuit.

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EMSL Analytical, Inc. is a leading testing laboratory with over 39 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in DNA & forensic testing, consumer product, environmental, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, microbiology, radon, food and materials testing services to professionals and the general public. Visit www.EMSL.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com for more information.