Development and commercial implementation of a source assurance and traceability method based on DNA barcodes |
|---|
| Zografos, A., Clotilde, L., Birley, A. |
- Abstract:
- We present results from the development and commercial implementation of a novel method for source assurance and traceability that is based on DNA barcodes, which are externally applied onto or in foods.This development is unrelated to DNA barcoding as it applies to species detection in biology.
The method employs a set of sixty-four distinct, short (~ 100 base pairs) DNA sequences. These sequences have already been recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration as food safe. We employ a commercial off-the-shelf auto sampler, which we refer to as a dispenser. The dispenser is loaded with vials containing each sequence, and it is used to create unique combinations of these sequences. We refer to these combinations as “barcodes.” The dispenser is connected to a main database, which ensures that each created barcode is unique.
The resulting barcodes are used to tag foods. In the first commercial implementation at Borton Fruit(Washington State, USA), the barcodes are matched to source information and are applied to apples mixed in with the standard wax coating. We demonstrate that the barcodes are stable much longer than the apples’ shelf life. We demonstrate that commingled fruitsfrom multiple sources can be correctly identified with accuracy. We discuss the development of a fast assay to read the barcodes in approximately 15 minutes and present our plan to further decrease the time in the near future. Finally, we discuss planned applications in other commodities. - Keywords:
- DNA barcoding, traceability, source assurance, food fraud
- Download:
- IMEKO-TC23-2017-036.pdf
- DOI:
- -
- Event details
- IMEKO TC:
- TC23
- Event name:
- 3rd IMEKOFOODS Conference
- Title:
Metrology Promoting Standardization and Harmonization in Food and Nutrition
- Place:
- Thessaloniki, GREECE
- Time:
- 01 October 2017 - 04 October 2017