Horsemeat and dna.

C

chizlit

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I dont really know which forum to put this question in, but as it seems to be a UK related problem (at the moment) I'll stick it here.

Is anyone on here an expert (or knows something about)dna.
I was wondering how close horse dna is to donkey (I know it's pretty close), so the question is with all these tests being done would it just show up as horse even if it was donkey?
 
I think the answer is probably strictly-speaking 'it depends exactly what DNA they're looking at'. However, I'd have thought it unlikely they would not be able to tell the two apart (during my Masters thesis we could tell very distinct inter-population differences between Mediterranean and Atlantic bib, so a species (or indeed subgenus) difference should be no problem to detect).

The only question might be whether they'd miss donkey DNA through not looking for it - if they're only looking for horse (or pig) matches, as most of the articles I've read are suggesting, they may ignore anything that doesn't match those two. Even that's very unlikely in practice though.

This is the website of a company involved in this sort of testing: IdentiGEN DNA TraceBack

They have a service certifying Aberdeen Angus beef - if they can tell Angus from Hereford then horse from donkey will be no problem I'm sure. :)
 
Thanks for the reply. Yes the probem seemed to start from them not looking for horse, so it would be hoped that they would have learned and are now testing for anything!
There would be a whole different outcry if donkey is found and I wouldn't be surprised if it was, on a smug note, glad I'm veggie!
 
For those of us not in the UK, would one of you like to provide the background to this story?

:p

Hix
 
Hix said:
For those of us not in the UK, would one of you like to provide the background to this story?

:p

Hix
Click to expand...

There's been a recent controversy about certain processed meat products (mostly frozen lasagne) advertised as beef actually containing anything up to 100% horse meat, and also some processed meat products supplied to prisons containing unlabelled pork products (and being given to Muslim prisoners).


More info here: BBC News - Findus beef lasagne contained up to 100% horsemeat, FSA says

So far as is known at this point there are no actual health risks involved, but there are obviously concerns about supply chain management and food labelling - as well as cultural concerns (quite apart from the religious implications of unlabelled pork, in the UK horse most certainly isn't considered for eating, on the whole!*).





*I personally don't really have a problem with eating horse any more than any other domestic ungulate, but many wouldn't agree with that. And of course, I'd want to know I was eating it!
 
Hix said:
For those of us not in the UK, would one of you like to provide the background to this story?

:p

Hix
Click to expand...

There's a bit of a scandal going on regarding meat (well mainly beef) being contaminated with horse meat. In some cases up to 99% horse meat if you believe certain tabloids. Products affected include lasagne, burgers and crispy pancakes! :eek:

BBC News - 'Horsemeat beefburgers' investigated in UK and Ireland
Horse meat burger scandal - News, views, gossip, pictures, video - Mirror Online

EDIT:- Cross-posting with Maguari! :D
 
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Thanks guys!

You have beef in your Pancakes?

:p

Hix
 
Thankfully this isn't just a UK problem it is also affecting products in France and elsewhere

The only concern I can see is that horses not destined for the table can be treated with antibiotics etc that other food animals such as cattle aren't, so there is a slight risk from that aspect, Personally if you eat very cheap ready meals I think you can expect the contents won't be the best there are available.

My mother used to buy tinned mince until I pointed out it was beef flavoured, and actually contained reclaimed chicken, which is as far as I'm aware is chicken that had been mechanically recovered by blasting with water and saving the glupe, then flavouring it with beef extract.
 
dean said:
Personally if you eat very cheap ready meals I think you can expect the contents won't be the best there are available.

My mother used to buy tinned mince until I pointed out it was beef flavoured, and actually contained reclaimed chicken, which is as far as I'm aware is chicken that had been mechanically recovered by blasting with water and saving the glupe, then flavouring it with beef extract.
Click to expand...

This reminds me of the 'chicken McNugget' controversy - where everyone was suddenly shocked that McDonalds were using cheap reclaimed chicken in their nuggets. It was advertised only as 'chicken' so McDonalds were within their rights but there was a right hoo-ha from people shocked that cheap mass-produced food might not be top-quality(!). Nowadays of course McNuggets are advertised as (and so presumably produced with) '100% chicken breast' in the UK as a result of this.
 
dean said:
The only concern I can see is that horses not destined for the table can be treated with antibiotics etc that other food animals such as cattle aren't, so there is a slight risk from that aspect, Personally if you eat very cheap ready meals I think you can expect the contents won't be the best there are available.
Click to expand...

I am sure that the horsemeat found in the products was for human consumption in the first place, so is equally as safe as beef would be. Personally I reckon anyone buying this cheap cr*p is destined to get the last brushings of the abattoir floor so to speak.

Anyone remember the Peter Kay, Garlic Bread comedy sketch? Well Hix has just done another Pancakes and Beef? :D:D
 
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