Quantitative determination of commercially relevant species in foods by real-time PCR

Defined samples were examined regarding the proportion of beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken and turkey utilising TaqMan (TM) PCR. A quantification was performed for determining the proportion of animal species in relation to the total proportion of meat in the food products. The adoption of published real-time PCR systems (International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2005) permitted a quantitative statement in processed meat products and in canned foods down to a concentration of 0.1%. Different factors influencing the amount of species determined were investigated.