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Wang YC, Liu SH, Ho HC, Su HY, Chang CH. DNA mini-barcoding reveals the mislabeling rate of canned cat food in Taiwan. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16833. [PMID: 38406290 PMCID: PMC10893872 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Domestic cats are important companion animals in modern society that live closely with their owners. Mislabeling of pet food can not only harm pets but also cause issues in areas such as religious beliefs and natural resource management. Currently, the cat food market is booming. However, despite the risk that mislabeling poses to cats and humans, few studies have focused on species misrepresentation in cat food products. Methods To address this issue, we used DNA barcoding, a highly effective identification methodology that can be applied to even highly processed products. We targeted a short segment (~85 basepairs) of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (16S) gene as a barcode and employed Sanger or next generation sequencing (NGS) to inspect 138 canned cat food products in the Taiwanese market. Results We discovered that the majority of mislabeling incidents were related to replacement of tuna with other species. Moreover, our metabarcoding revealed that numerous undeclared ingredients were present in all examined canned products. One product contained CITES Appendix II-listed shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Overall, we uncovered a mislabeling rate of at least 28.99%. To verify cases of mislabeling, an official standardized list of vernacular names, along with the corresponding scientific species names, as well as a dependable barcoding reference sequence database are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chun Wang
- Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Technical Service Division, Fisheries Research Institute, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hui Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan Ching Ho
- Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yin Su
- Department of Science Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hao Chang
- Department of Science Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan
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Selena Shen KL, Cheow JJ, Cheung AB, Koh RJR, Koh Xiao Mun A, Lee YN, Lim YZ, Namatame M, Peng E, Vintenbakh V, Lim EX, Wainwright BJ. DNA barcoding continues to identify endangered species of shark sold as food in a globally significant shark fin trade hub. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16647. [PMID: 38188178 PMCID: PMC10771092 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Shark fins are a delicacy consumed throughout Southeast Asia. The life history characteristics of sharks and the challenges associated with regulating fisheries and the fin trade make sharks particularly susceptible to overfishing. Here, we used DNA barcoding techniques to investigate the composition of the shark fin trade in Singapore, a globally significant trade hub. We collected 505 shark fin samples from 25 different local seafood and Traditional Chinese Medicine shops. From this, we identified 27 species of shark, three species are listed as Critically Endangered, four as Endangered and ten as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Six species are listed on CITES Appendix II, meaning that trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. All dried fins collected in this study were sold under the generic term "shark fin"; this vague labelling prevents accurate monitoring of the species involved in the trade, the effective implementation of policy and conservation strategy, and could unwittingly expose consumers to unsafe concentrations of toxic metals. The top five most frequently encountered species in this study are Rhizoprionodon acutus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Galeorhinus galeus, Sphyrna lewini and Sphyrna zygaena. Accurate labelling that indicates the species of shark that a fin came from, along with details of where it was caught, allows consumers to make an informed choice on the products they are consuming. Doing this could facilitate the avoidance of species that are endangered, and similarly the consumer can choose not to purchase species that are documented to contain elevated concentrations of toxic metals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jin Jie Cheow
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Yun Ning Lee
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yan Zhen Lim
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Maya Namatame
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eileen Peng
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Elisa X.Y. Lim
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin John Wainwright
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Freitas L, Barbosa AJ, Vale BA, Sampaio I, Santos S. Development of rapid and cost-effective multiplex PCR assays to differentiate catfish of the genus Brachyplatystoma (Pimelodidae-Siluriformes) sold in Brazil. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15364. [PMID: 37304874 PMCID: PMC10249622 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The catfishes Brachyplatystoma filamentosum (Kumakuma), Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Laulao catfish), and Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (gilded catfish) are important fishery resources in Brazil, where they are sold both fresh and in the form of fillets or steaks. These species have morphological similarities, thus, they can be easily misidentified or substituted, especially after processed. Therefore, accurate, sensitive, and reliable methods are needed for the identification of these species to avoid commercial fraud. In the present study, we develop two multiplex PCR assays for the identification of the three catfish species. Each multiplex protocol combined three species-specific forward primers and a universal reverse primer to produce banding patterns able to discriminate the target species unequivocally. The length of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) fragments was approximately 254 bp for B. rousseauxii, 405 bp for B. vaillantii, and 466 bp for B. filamentosum, while the control region (CR) assay produced fragments of approximately 290 bp for B. filamentosum, 451 bp for B. vaillantii, and 580 bp for B. rousseauxii. The protocols were sensitive enough to detect the target species at a DNA concentration of 1 ng/µL, with the exception of the CR of B. vaillantii, in which the fragment was only detectable at 10 ng/µL. Therefore, the multiplex assays developed in the present study were sensitive, accurate, efficient, rapid, and cost-effective for the unequivocal identification of the target species of Brachyplatystoma. They can be utilized by fish processing industries to certify their products, or by government agencies to authenticate products and prevent fraudulent commercial substitutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilane Freitas
- Laboratory of Fish Microbiology, Institute of Coastal Studies, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brasil
| | - Andressa J. Barbosa
- Laboratory of Fish Microbiology, Institute of Coastal Studies, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brasil
| | - Bianca A. Vale
- Laboratory of Fish Microbiology, Institute of Coastal Studies, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brasil
| | - Iracilda Sampaio
- Laboratory of Evolution, Institute of Coastal Studies, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brasil
| | - Simoni Santos
- Laboratory of Fish Microbiology, Institute of Coastal Studies, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brasil
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Carreiro AR, Ramos JA, Mata V, Almeida NM, Paiva VH, Lopes RJ. DNA sequencing shows that tropical tuna species misidentification can be an underestimated issue in fish landings. Food Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Goymer A, Steele K, Jenkins F, Burgess G, Andrews L, Baumgartner N, Gubili C, Griffiths AM. For R-eel?! Investigating international sales of critically endangered species in freshwater eel products with DNA barcoding. Food Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.109752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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Kitch CJ, Tabb AM, Marquis GE, Hellberg RS. Species substitution and mislabeling of ceviche, poke, and sushi dishes sold in orange county, California. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Nijman V, Stein FM. Meta-analyses of molecular seafood studies identify the global distribution of legal and illegal trade in CITES-regulated European eels. Curr Res Food Sci 2022; 5:191-195. [PMID: 35106483 PMCID: PMC8784285 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Authentication of seafood products by means of molecular techniques has relevance for food sustainability and security, as well as international trade regulation, linked to transparency in food manufacturing. We focus on the molecular detection of the depleted European eel Anguilla anguilla, a species for which strict international trade regulations are in place since 2010, in studies conducted outside Europe. We found thirteen studies from nine countries (Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and USA) for which, on average, 59 ± 28% of the 330 sequenced eel samples comprised European eel. Only China, Japan, South Korea, and USA reported the import of European eel in the years prior to sampling. The authentication of eel products demonstrates a global, in part illegal, trade in European eel, covered up by incomplete or fraudulent labelling. This calls into question the compliance with existing national and international trade regulations and its implications for food safety and sustainability. Existing seafood studies enable meta-analysis, identifying global distribution. Observed distribution of European eel is not evident in trade statistics. Regulations are insufficiently enforced, impacting food sustainability and security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, School of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
- Centre for Functional Genomics, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Florian Martin Stein
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, School of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
- Institut für Geoökologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, Braunschweig, DE, 38106, Germany
- Corresponding author. Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, School of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
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Product Authentication Using Two Mitochondrial Markers Reveals Inconsistent Labeling and Substitution of Canned Tuna Products in the Taiwanese Market. Foods 2021; 10:foods10112655. [PMID: 34828936 PMCID: PMC8623642 DOI: 10.3390/foods10112655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish of the tribe Thunnini represent a significant proportion of the stock caught by the fishing industry, with many of these fishes being collectively called tuna. However, only certain species can be used legally as an ingredient in canned tuna products, depending on regional food regulations. In Taiwan, only Thunnus species or Katsuwonus pelamis can be used as canned tuna. Here, we authenticated 90 canned tuna products, including 25 cat food samples, by sequencing two mitochondrial regions, 16S rRNA (16S) and the control region (CR). BLAST analysis revealed that Sarda orientalis, Euthynnus affinis, Auxis rochei, and Auxis thazard are all used as substitutes for legitimate tuna products. We found that 63.33% of investigated samples are true canned tuna, i.e., contain Thunnus species or skipjack tuna. We advocate that the Taiwanese government publishes an official standardized list of fishes, especially so that scientific, Chinese and vernacular names can be assigned unambiguously based on a “one species-one name policy”, thereby clarifying which species can be used in seafood products such as tuna. Furthermore, we feel that the large-scale and long-term monitoring of canned tuna products is warranted to fully assess the extent of tuna product adulteration in Taiwan.
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