Detection of roe deer, red deer, and hare meat in raw materials and processed products available in Poland

Lech Rak,Karina Knapik,Jacek Bania,Adam Gadzinowski,Jakub Sujkowski

doi:10.1007/s00217-014-2196-x

Abstract

To allow detection of meat from the most popular game species in Poland, we developed a PCR-based method for identification of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and hare (Lepus europaeus). The designed primers were based on the noncoding, mitochondrial D-loop region. Amplicon sizes ranged from 116 to 255 bp. The primers exhibited no cross-reactivity with the DNA from common slaughter and other game species. The detection limit of the assay was established to be below 0.001 % in raw red deer (C. elaphus) and hare (L. europaeus) meat, and below 0.01 % in raw roe deer (C. capreolus) meat, whereas <0.5 % of hare and red deer meat in processed samples could be detected. The PCR-based assay was used for authentication of 17 samples of raw game meat and 32 samples of game meat-containing products available in Polish markets. Analysis of all tested raw meat and processed products revealed the presence of DNA of investigated species in concordance with producers’ declarations.

Highlights

IntroductionApart from gel-based PCR methods, real-time PCR was successfully applied for meat speciation [4, 22, 25]
Adulteration of meat products may involve reduction in the meat amount or substitution of high-quality raw materialApart from gel-based PCR methods, real-time PCR was successfully applied for meat speciation [4, 22, 25]
We developed a PCR-based assay for the identification of roe deer, red deer, and hare

Summary

Introduction

Apart from gel-based PCR methods, real-time PCR was successfully applied for meat speciation [4, 22, 25]. Because of its non-quantitative nature, the endpoint PCR can produce similar signal from a wide range of target DNA concentrations. Real-time PCR can overcome these problems, since measure of signal at early phases of PCR allows for DNA quantitation in a wide dynamic range [22]. Game meat and its products have become more in demand by consumers in many countries. The objective of this study was first to develop a PCR-based method for identification of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and hare (Lepus europaeus), and to conduct a market study using this method to test commercial products on Polish market

Objectives

Methods

Results