Food DNA Species Identification Analyses | Species Verification in Meat, Milk and Other Foods

In the food sector, food imitation and adulteration refers to altering the actual composition or characteristics of a product or presenting it to consumers in a misleading way. Particularly in foods of animal origin, replacing a high-value raw material with a lower-cost animal species represents a significant risk of food fraud and adulteration.

In meat and dairy products, this issue is critically important in terms of consumer confidence, compliance with the Turkish Food Codex, brand reputation, supplier verification and quality assurance processes.

Imitation and Adulteration in Meat Products

In meat and meat products, imitation and adulteration may occur when a different animal species is used instead of, or in addition to, the species declared on the label.

For example, the presence of undeclared animal species in a product labelled as beef, or the use of undeclared species in products such as sucuk, salami, sausages, meatballs or ready-to-eat meals falls within this scope.

Imitation and Adulteration in Dairy Products

In dairy products, different milk species may be used particularly in products made from higher-value milk such as sheep, goat or buffalo milk.

For example, detecting bovine DNA in a product labelled as goat cheese is an important finding in terms of verifying the product declaration.

DNA Species Identification by Real-Time PCR

In DNA Species Identification Analyses, DNA is first extracted from the sample, and gene regions specific to the targeted animal species are investigated using the Real-Time PCR method.

With this technique, species-specific DNA sequences can be detected at the molecular level even if the meat or dairy product has been processed, minced, cooked or mixed with different raw materials.

In Which Processes Are DNA Species Identification Analyses Used?

✅ Label Verification

Verification that a product declared as “beef sucuk” contains only bovine-derived material.

✅ Assessment of Imitation and Adulteration Risks

Investigation of undeclared horse, donkey or pork meat, as well as other animal species.

✅ Species Verification in Dairy Products

Verification of the declared milk species in sheep cheese, goat cheese or buffalo milk products.

✅ Raw Material and Supplier Control

Verification that supplied meat-, milk- or fish-based raw materials correspond to the declared species.

✅ Assessment of Cross-Contamination

Investigation of potential contamination risks in facilities where different animal species are processed on the same production line.

✅ Import, Export and Official Inspections

Supporting regulatory compliance with technical data and increasing reliability in international trade.

✅ Halal Production and Religious Sensitivities

Supporting halal production processes through the investigation of pork DNA and providing verification for different religious sensitivities.

DNA Species Identification Analyses Performed at Bilim Laboratories

🧬 Detection of Pork DNA

🧬 Detection of Bovine DNA

🧬 Detection of Horse DNA

🧬 Detection of Donkey DNA

🧬 Detection of Chicken DNA

🧬 Detection of Turkey DNA

🧬 Detection of Sheep DNA

🧬 Detection of Goat DNA

🧬 Detection of Buffalo DNA

🧬 Detection of Fish DNA

At Bilim Laboratories, with our scope of activities authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and our TÜRKAK accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, we provide reliable, impartial and regulatory-compliant molecular analysis services to manufacturers, importers, exporters, retail brands and public institutions, while supporting quality management processes with scientific data.

📩 For detailed information about DNA Species Identification Analyses and for your analysis requests, please contact us.