Development of advanced PCR-based methods for accurate identification and authentication of commercial shrimp products

Abstract

Shrimp is among the most economically valuable and susceptible seafood species to food fraud worldwide. The identities of 40 commercial shrimp products sold in South Korean markets were assessed using the standard barcoding method, revealing a significant 70% incidence of mislabeling. Based on these findings, three distinct PCR methods were developed to differentiate between eight predominant species (Penaeus vannamei, Pandalus borealis, Palaemon gravieri, Leptochela gracilis, Penaeus monodon, Pleoticus muelleri, Metapenaeopsis dalei, and Euphausia pacifica). Both conventional and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) showed specificity ranging from 0.0001 to 0.001 ng/μL, with no cross-reactivity against 18 reference species. These methods were further refined to create a multiplex ultrafast RT-PCR technique that could simultaneously identify seven shrimp species within 23 min while maintaining analytical accuracy that can be adapted for various analytical settings, field applications, rapid screening, quality control, and regulatory compliance, making them invaluable tools for the food industry and regulatory authorities.