- Food and feed authenticity testing & food and feed adulteration investigation
- Animal and plant species identification
- Specific species detection
- Species or genus screening
- Plant variety testing
- GMO testing
- Swine PSS testing
- Spotted Wing Drosophila
Food and feed authenticity testing & food and feed adulteration investigation
The adulteration or contamination of food and animal feed with undeclared ingredients can result in recalls and reduce consumer confidence in well-established product brands. AFL’s accredited methods can identify unknown species, or detect specific species within a food or feed product along the production process, or screen for potential biological species.
Animal and plant species identification
We identify unknown species via DNA barcoding for single species samples
- Animal species testing (e.g. pig, cow, dog, rabbit, horse etc)
- Fish species testing (e.g. Atlantic cod, Pacific cod, Haddock, Chum salmon etc)
- Meat species testing (e.g. beef, pork, chicken, turkey, goat etc)
- Plant species testing (e.g. lettuce, spinach, apple, peach, corn, bean etc)
Specific species detection
We detect a specific species via PCR or ELISA in multi-species samples to support certification, adulteration investigation, or quality control. For example, rice flour is used as a particulate tracer, which can be mixed into non-prohibited raw material used to flush rendering systems to verify the relative efficacy of cleanout procedures in rendering operations. The species covered include (but not limited to):
- Animal
- Bovine
- Chicken
- Goat
- Horse
- Porcine
- Ruminant
- Turkey
- Ginkgo biloba
- Rice
- Soy
- Wheat
Species or genus screening
We also screen for potential species or higher taxonomic groups contained in a complex sample via DNA metabarcoding using high throughput sequencing, based on clients’ needs and sample complexity. Taxonomic groups include but are not limited to:
- Animals
- Fishes
- Plants
- Insects
- Bacteria
- Yeasts & Fungi
Plant variety testing
There are many varieties of a particular plant species. DNA-based tests accurately determine varieties to ensure “true-to-variety” for a superior trait, character, or value, for exporting acceptance, or for regulatory compliance. For example, there are six varieties of Tebou beans and four types of Azuki beans which look alike, but only certain varieties are acceptable for exporting purposes or have superior quality (value). Our DNA tests provide identification, as well as QC-check (for contamination of un-wanted varieties) among the Azuki and Tebou bean varieties. Our variety testing include, but are not limited to:
- Apples (e.g. Golden Delicious & McIntosh)
- Azuki beans (e.g. Erimosyouzu & Kitano-otome)
- Cannabis
- Grapes
- Potatoes (e.g. Yukon Gold)
- Raspberries
- Rice
- Strawberries
- Tebou beans (e.g. Hemi-Tebou & Yuki-Tebou)
- Tobacco (e.g. distinguishing Canadian from American varieties)
- Butternut hybrid
GMO testing
Labeling of food and food ingredients containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is voluntary in some jurisdictions, and mandatory in others (i.e. European Union). Using real-time PCR, we provide qualitative or semi-quantitative DNA-based analyses of GMOs targeting the most common GMO markers (e.g. P35S) in soy and corn samples.
Swine PSS testing
PSS is an inherited genetic disorder in swine. Pigs carrying the PSS gene are more prone to producing pale, soft and exudative (PSE) pork. PSS (HAL-1843) test accurately detects the genetic mutation associated with PSS in swine blood, semen and tissue samples.
Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) testing
SWD (Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive fly that causes loss of fruit production. We use a qPCR method for detection or semi-quantitative enumeration of SWD in trap samples.