Caroline Wright, Junior, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Kentucky Dr. Li Lu, Assistant Professor of Biology, Division of Mathematics and Sciences Bruce Griffiths, Assistant Professor of Biology, Division of Mathematics and Sciences
Many batches of packaged meat have been identified as being contaminated with types of meat not indicated on the labeling. For quality and product integrity testing purposes, this study is being enacted. The objective of this study is to determine if molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction can be used to effectively identify components of unknown ground meat samples.
Recently, false labeling of packaged meat has come to light in the international media. With widespread cases of horsemeat mixed in with supposedly “100% beef” samples in Europe, product integrity has become a large issue (W1). Because of this, this experiment is designed to determine if the molecular method of polymerase chain reaction can be used to identify the components of an unknown ground meat sample.