PCR Detection of Soy Protein in Ready to Eat Meat Doners

Abstract

Addition of soy protein sources in food products is widely used because of their functional properties such as water binding, fat binding, beneficial effects on texture and emulsification capability and providing improved economy with increasing yield. However, the use of soy protein in food products causes economical disadvantages because of replacement of an expensive ingredient like meat with a cheaper ingredient like soy and health risks for the consumers as well. Soy is an important allergy source for sensitive consumers. Because of these reasons, the most recent meat products regulation of Turkish Food Codex has banned the addition of soy in doners since 2012, like several other countries. Detection of soy in food products is performed by detection of soy protein or soy DNA. Because DNA is more stable to processing, PCR methods are shown to be more reliable when used in processed foods. In our study, 50 doner samples were collected from various retail sales points. Twenty-five doner samples were collected before and 25 after the regulation was enacted. DNA was isolated from doner samples and PCR testing of these DNA extracts were performed. The detection results of the doner samples showed that any of the 25 samples collected after the regulation enacted did not contain soy ingredient while 3 of 25 sample (12%) collected before the regulation came into force contained soy.