The authenticity of food is currently a major issue for researchers, consumers, industries and policy makers at all levels of the production process. Particularly in the meat industry, products from game animals are susceptible targets for fraudulent labelling due to the economic profit that results from selling cheaper meat as meat from more profitable and desirable species. Apart from meat species adulteration, illegal poaching of endangered game species may take place contributing to threat of wildlife populations.

Species authentication of meat products plays a major role in traceability, quality, and safety purposes. Species substitution or cross-contamination can indeed lead to regulatory noncompliance, religious concerns, or allergic issues.

The identification of meat also allows consumers to reassure that the meat they purchase is unadulterated, properly labelled, and safe. This may be of importance in various communities where the consumption of certain meats is prohibited. Thus preventing adulteration of meat foodstuffs with less desirable or objectionable meat species is important for economic, regulatory health and cultural reasons. Mylab Discovery Solutions offers real time PCR based identification of chicken, turkey and beef in raw and cooked meat products.