Scientists in Aberdeen, Scotland, have developed a new tool which, they say, will help tackle so-called food fraud and the addition of “irregular ingredients” to ready-made meals.
The MEATiCode system, developed at the Rowett Institute of the University of Aberdeen, can identify the type of meat in ready-to-eat, store-bought meals, as well as the breed of the animal it comes from. Its creators say MEATiCode will help verify product authenticity and prevent contamination.
Food fraud – the deliberate adulteration, misrepresentation or mislabelling of a product – is estimated to cost the United Kingdom around £2 billion a year, according to BBC News.
The developers of the technology, which is capable of identifying multiple types of meat within a single product, said it is the first of its kind and will help protect consumers and improve food safety.
Misleading meat labels
In meals purchased from shops, the scientists analysed beef, pork, chicken and lamb and identified two cases in which the meat was not what was advertised. In one kebab, none of the 14% lamb listed on the label was found. In another product that was supposed to contain 60% lamb and 20% chicken, the analysis showed there was twice as much chicken as lamb. In 17 other meals, the meat content was as advertised.
Incorrect labelling can create problems for people who are allergic to certain products or who cannot consume specific types of meat for religious reasons.
The project leader, Renata Garbellini Duft, said: “When you buy a burger from the supermarket, you don’t really know what it contains – you simply have to trust the label. With this method, however, we know exactly what is in it. In a single experiment, we can detect many different species.”
Meat samples are placed into the device and analysed against a database of eight meat species by identifying unique peptides – small chains of amino acids – within the food. This provides a clear picture of their origin. The system has shown that it can even identify specific breeds, such as Aberdeen Angus.
Honey and whisky
After meat, the research team hopes to move on to honey, which is considered one of the products most affected by fraud. It will also examine whisky and attempt to adapt the technique to detect allergens such as nuts, fish and dairy products.