Abstract

The Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies represent a turning point in the food inspection field, particularly for species identification in matrices composed of a blend of two or more species. In this study NGS technologies were applied by testing the usefulness of the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) in seafood traceability. Sixteen commercial surimi samples produced both in EU and non-EU countries were analysed. Libraries were prepared using a universal primer pair able to amplify a short 16SrRNA fragment from a wide range of fish and cephalopod species. The mislabelling rate of the samples was also evaluated. Overall, DNA from 13 families, 19 genera and 16 species of fish, and from 3 families, 3 genera and 3 species of cephalopods was found with the analysis. Samples produced in non-EU countries exhibited a higher variability in their composition. 37.5% of the surimi products were found to be mislabelled. Among them, 25% voluntary declared a species different from those identified and 25% (all produced in non-EU countries) did not report the presence of molluscs on the label, posing a potential health threat for allergic consumers. The use of vulnerable species was also proved. Although the protocol should be further optimized, PGM platform proved to be a useful tool for the analysis of complex, highly processed products.

Highlights

  • Present changes in socio-demographic features and people lifestyle, in developed countries, have radically shifted consumers’ eating habits and their market choices

  • We used the following criteria to consider one case of mislabelling:: (A) labels did not report the precise term “fish” among the ingredients (B) labels did not report the precise term “molluscs” among the ingredients; (C) among the labels voluntarily reporting the scientific name, those in which the Species identification in surimi-based products using Generation Sequencing technologies declared species did not correspond to the ones retrieved by the analysis; (D) labels did not declare the presence of molluscs but the analysis proved the presence of species belonging to this Phylum

  • Apart from the two surimi-based products (SBPs) collected at the Border Inspection Post (BIP) (SUR-15 and SUR16), produced in China and Thailand respectively, the fourteen samples directly purchased in this study in Spain and Italy were produced in European countries, except for one (SUR-13) which was produced in Korea and purchased at an Italian small retailer

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Summary

Introduction

Present changes in socio-demographic features and people lifestyle, in developed countries, have radically shifted consumers’ eating habits and their market choices. With the general increasingly speeding lifestyles and individualisation tendencies, available time for cooking has reduced, so consumers normally prefer “time saving” products as well as affordable prices. Ready-to-eat products, which do not require a further heating or processing step before consumption, have increasingly appeal consents due to their cheapness, storage easiness and attractive appearance [1]. Species identification in surimi-based products using Generation Sequencing technologies

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