Molecular Identification of Meat Animal Species in Food and Feedstuffs

Background

Accurate identification of meat animal species is essential for enforcing various regulatory frameworks governing food safety, animal protection, and trade in India. Key legislations include the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Acts (state-specific), the Food Safety and Standards Act, the Livestock Importation Act (AQCS), the Wildlife Protection Act, the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, the APEDA Act, and Vegan Food Regulations. Effective implementation of these laws requires the establishment of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities capable of generating reliable and scientifically validated test results.

Technology

The innovation focuses on molecular methods, particularly PCR (end-point and qPCR), for the identification of meat species from major food and non-food animals and their practical application. It includes species-specific primers and probes along with standardized protocols for use by licensing laboratories. The innovation also provides reliable DNA extraction procedures for complex food and feed matrices. In addition, it outlines procedures for method validation and verification by licensing laboratories, offering a ready-to-implement solution for laboratories to establish testing, obtain accreditation, and analyze food and feed samples on a commercial basis.