New Strategies for Tracing Foodstuffs: Biological Barcodes Utilising PCR-DGGE

Abstract

Special Edition 1 Traceability of foods is undertaken primarily at the administrative level, and the use Article Ref. #: 1000AFTNSOJSE1101 of advanced analytical tools is rare. Nevertheless, the determination of geographical origin is a demand of the traceability system for the import and export of foodstuffs (UE regulation 178/2002). It is hypothesised that foodstuffs can be traced at source by analysing food sample Article History microbial communities after they have been exported. For this purpose, rDNA profiles gen- Received: January 26th, 2015 erated by PCR-DGGE may be used to detect variability in microbial community (bacteria, Accepted: February 21st, 2015 yeast, fungi) structures inherent to fish, fruits and grains. This is an emerging traceability tool Published: February 23rd, 2015 that imprints food with a unique biological bar code and makes it possible to trace food to its original location. In addition, this analytical technique provides a means to monitor and fully understand the ecology of mycotoxin producing fungi. Citation El Sheikha AF. New strategies tracing for foodstuffs: Biologi-