US-based mass spectrometry products provider AB SCIEX has developed a new method to detect horse DNA in meat samples.
AB SCIEX noted that this development is in response to recent reports that horse and pig DNA had been identified in beef products sold in several supermarket chains in Europe.
The new method is based on LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography / tandem mass spectrometry) consisting of an AB SCIEX QTRAP 5500 LC/MS/MS system coupled with an Eksigent ekspert micro LC system.
The method, which represents more accurate approach to meat speciation, detects the protein markers unique to specific meat species and confirms the presence of a particular species in a sample by direct detection.
The mass spectrometry-based method also allows laboratories to detect veterinary drug residues such as Phenylbutazone, in the same analysis.
Although, the method was developed to detect horse DNA contamination in beef samples, it can also be used to detect peptide markers of various animal types simultaneously. The method has the capability to identify horse meat that may be present in other tissue samples such as pork, beef or lamb by its unique protein markers.
AB SCIEX Food and Environmental senior director Vincent Paez said that the new method shows a clear role for LC/MS/MS in meat speciation, providing scientists the most reliable results for identification of horse meat in food.
"It further demonstrates our commitment to helping companies and governments improve food safety and verify food authenticity," Paez added.
AB SCIEX stated that the new horse meat markers have been verified by scientists at the University of Münster. In addition, AB SCIEX scientists have used the method in a recent LGC Standards proficiency testing scheme, revealing that it can easily detect horse meat in beef at levels of 10% with no false positives.
