Genetic Identification techniques to improve food safety recall of ground meat products

This project seeks to expand the utility of DNA verification of traceability to comminuted meat products such as ground beef, reducing the scope of a product recall in the event of a contamination incident. This will have a very significant impact on the cost and effectiveness of such recalls, improving the recall process and increasing consumer confidence in the safety of the Canadian meat chain.

Date of Submission:	July 14, 2010
Total Budget:	375,621
Total Amount Requested from Genome Alberta/ALMA (less than $500k):	$317,388.75
Project Duration:	3 years

Project Leader(s)	Prof. Stephen Moore University of Alberta Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science Alberta Veterinary Research Institute 1415 College Plaza, Edmonton	Ciaran Meghen IdentiGEN North America Inc. 4824 Quail Crest Place Lawrence KS 66049
Co-Applicant(s)	Name	Affiliation
	Graham Plastow	University of Alberta
	Steven Miller	University of Guelph
	Zhiquan Wang	University of Alberta

Project Summary

This project seeks to expand the utility of DNA verification of traceability to comminuted meat products such as ground beef. Such products generally contain meat from many animals, which makes it very difficult to identify the specific origin of products through the production chain. This will be accomplished through the development of robust analytical techniques and statistical models, in order to establish a reliable framework for the genetic identification of individual ground beef (or pork) manufacturing batches, without recourse to a database of individual carcass DNA profiles.
By establishing a clear methodology by which individual ground beef manufacturing batches can be identified we will then evaluate the potential to trace finished product (eg. beef patties) to the correct manufacturing batch. This can result in a significant reduction of the scope of a product recall in the event of a contamination incident. This would have a very significant impact on the cost and effectiveness of such recalls, improve the recall process and increase consumer confidence in the safety of the Canadian meat chain.
The project team will seek to engage with the control authorities to demonstrate the positive impact of these developments on food safety and the potential to
improve recall policies and procedures.

With reference to the Alberta Livestock & Meat Strategy Implementation Plan successful development of a genetic system of ground meat identification and food safety recall will produce outcomes that intersect with:

• Food safety (2.1), through improved recall capability
• traceability (3.2), by creating a unique identifier for ground meat preparations
• product branding (4.2), by communicating the DNA based technology underpinning to improved food safety
•  technology commercialization (5.5), by translating discoveries and intellectual property generated in the course
  of the project to new industrial products and processes, with high knowledge content
• enhanced market access (5.7), by giving Canada‟s trading partner‟s added assurance that Canada is an
  innovator and leader in the development of advanced food safety systems