| Summary: | The regulatory framework regarding food labelling aims to ensure food safety and prevent consumer misleading and food fraud. However, legal compliance cannot be controlled without the use of reliable analytical methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with species-specific primers is considered the most reliable analytical tool for species identification in various raw and processed foods. Duplex PCR methods allow the simultaneous detection of two species within a product, which may considerably reduce analytical time, effort and price. Therefore, the objective of our study was to develop a duplex PCR method for detecting beef and pork in raw and processed meat products. Our research resulted in elaborating a highly specific method, with LOD for each sequence of 0.01 % target DNA in two-component meat mixtures. The application of the duplex PCR for authentication of raw and processed meat products on Bulgarian market showed that 45% of the analysed meat products had labelling incompliances regarding the content of beef and pork. These results demonstrate the need for more stringent and authenticity control in the meat processing sector and at the market by using rapid and reliable analytical methods in order to reduce the current levels of food fraud and protect consumer’s rights.
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