Our experience in DNA sequencing and analysis allows us to offer simple solutions to complex problems that, up until now, had no simple solution.

Our genetic identification of species in foods has enabled us to perform genetic identification of fish products (tuna, hake, cod, anchovies…) or detection mandarin in orange juice.

AZTI-Tecnalia also helps companies in the food industry to tackle the challenges that will be required of companies in the near future through the installation of innovative molecular detection methodologies to assure traceability systems.

We offer companies a number of different identification systems, tailored to each client:

• Identification of species
• Identification of geographical origin
• Quantification of ingredients in mixtures

Identification of species

One of the food safety goals for companies in the food industry is to know the origin of a product: being able to identify the animal species or vegetable used to create a product has become essential. For this purpose, analytical techniques are used to determine the origin of the animals or plants used to create a food product (traceability).

However, techniques based on protein analysis are limited in this aspect, and therefore DNA technology is the best alternative. Since the DNA molecule is very stable, it can even be analysed in highly processed products.

AZTI-Tecnalia’s extensive experience in DNA sequencing and analysis allows us to offer simple solutions to complex problems that, up until now, had no simple solution.

Our genetic identification of species in foods has enabled us to perform genetic identification of fish products (tuna, hake, cod, anchovies…) or detection mandarin in orange juice.

We develop detection systems tailored to each client

Because at AZTI-Tecnalia we know that each client has specific needs, we design bespoke systems, whatever your requirements:

• Identification of species
  
• Identification of geographical origin (authentication of origin)
  
• Quantification of ingredients in mixtures
  
• Molecular identification of biotic contaminants (pathogens, allergens)
  

Identification of geographical origin (authentication of origin)

In recent years, European consumers have shown a great deal of concern to know the traceability of food products, owing mainly to concerns about the safety of food following the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease or bird flu. However, this concern for traceability goes beyond safety and has spread to other issues related with food quality.

In this scenario, it is becoming increasingly important to differentiate the origin of raw material as part of essential quality controls. In the case of dairy and meat products, the prestige of the most sought-after products is often based on the use of raw material from a specific species or breed, which is usually associated with traditional methods of preparation.

At AZTI-Tecnalia, we offer you the most up-to-date systems of product origin verification and validation. We use DNA analysis techniques to identify species in multiple meat, fish, dairy and fruit products, which have replaced immunological or electrophoretic protein analysis techniques given the relative stability of the DNA molecule. The analytical verification of breed is a more complex problem than species identification, but thanks to powerful DNA analysis techniques, we can obtain different genetic markers to verify the genetic origin of live animals and manufactured products.

The main advantages of these techniques are:

• Robustness: applicable to fresh, desiccated, salted, smoked, cooked products, etc.
• Accuracy: high resolution capacity.
• Easily adapted to new species or breeds.
• Capacity to incorporate new techniques that emerge from genome research.

Quantification of ingredients in mixtures

The existence of labelling regulations regarding the compulsory declaration of the amounts of certain ingredients in foods has led to the need to develop techniques to quantify the species present in relatively complex food products.

AZTI-Tecnalia works with modern identification and quantification techniques, which have combined the protection of consumer interests with an effective protection against fraud, and also facilitates the verification of compliance with labelling regulations and the reliability of commercial transactions.

One of the applications used is real-time PCR, a technology that has multiple applications within the food industry:

- Detecting the presence/absence of pathogens, such as salmonella:

• Ingredients, such as the detection of mandarin in orange juice
• Allergens (such as Anisakis in fish products)
• Plasmids (toxic genes, resistance to antibiotics)
• Specific genes (detection of transgenic genes)
• Quality controls (yeast…)

- Absolute Quantification:

• Calculation of the number of copies
• Interpolation in a standard curve (GMOs, ingredients, pathogens)
• Detection and quantification of mixtures: for example in canned tuna (bigeye vs. yellowfin)

- Relative Quantification (gene expression):

• In relation to the quantification of mixtures of ingredients in foods, most research focuses on Real-Time PCR technology using fluorescent probe detection systems with high-resolution optical instruments. Since this technology can monitor the real-time amplification reaction of a DNA fragment using the ingredient as a specific marker, the presence of this ingredient in a food product can be quantified.

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