Abstract:
Introduction: Worldwide, governments have developed many strategies to overcome the
long-standing food problem. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to food
contaminated by GMOs and residues of meat from hormonally treated animals, which
leads to high health risks for consumers. The aims of this study were to detect
recombinant DNA from genetically modified maize, soybeans, and fruits. Besides, the
adulteration of meat by mixing meat from different animal species and ractopamine
residues (RAC) using qualitative and quantitative methods in imported and local food
products was detected.
Results: Sixty local and imported food samples were collected from different
supermarkets, local markets, street vendors, and slum areas in Egypt. The results
revealed that the recombinant DNA targeted sequences were detected in 25 samples,
with the common regulatory genes (CaMV35s) in 16 samples. The Bt-11 and RRS genes
were both detected in maize and soybean samples, respectively. However, thirty-five were
used for a screening of meat adulteration with meat from different animal species using
qualitative real-time PCR and detection of RAC residues using ELISA. The results
revealed that 11 samples were positively pork adulterated and 6 meat samples were
positively adulterated (dog, donkey, pork, horse, sheep, chicken, and soybean). Finally,
lard was detected in three positively adulterated porcine meats.
Conclusion: It is concluded that, as per the international regulations to protect consumers
from the harm caused by food adulteration, countries have to recognize and adopt highly
restricted labelling systems as well as qualitative and/or quantitative methods in routine
analyses in internationally accredited laboratories.
