Compositional Analysis of Selected Food Products

Defra is undertaking a focussed informal survey of approx. 350 meat and fish products to verify compliance with compositional standards and labelling. Sample collection and screening analysis to check for labelling mis-description is being undertaken by FERA Science Ltd. Samples are analysed using an appropriate DNA-based multi-analyte screen which encompasses pork, beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, goat and equine species. White fish samples are analysed using a multi-analyte screen which encompasses cod, pollack and pangasius. Those samples which are screened as positive (for a species not declared on the label) and a proportion of screen-negative results, are to be submitted for independent confirmatory analysis by a third-party laboratory, using appropriate DNA-based methodology for species verification and an assessment of how much is present; employing 1% weight for weight (w/w) as the figure above which deliberate adulteration is implicated. It is anticipated that the screening process will identify as 'positive' all samples where there is a greater than 0.5% proportion of non-declared species present in a sample. However, the figure which should be used at confirmatory analysis to indicate deliberate adulteration remains 1% (w/w).