The demand for meat and meat products all over the world has substantially increased as the consumers in developing countries gain more purchasing power, providing a valuable superior quality protein in the diets of numerous people. It also contributes to sustainable livestock development, employment, developed secondary and tertiary industries and provides livelihood security for millions of people across the world.
Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat, turkey, duck are among the most popular and nutritionally valuable food commodities abroad. India, being one of the largest meat exporters in the world, required detailed testing and analysis of such meat export consignments according to the destination country’s meat regulations. This testing includes processed meat products like sausages, hot dogs, salami, canned meat, corned beef, dried meat, ham, cured bacon, smoked meat, etc.
The meat industry is prone to illegal practices like replacement of meat ingredients with other animal species. Major meat safety related issues include traditional as well as new, emerging, evolving pathogenic microbes and resistance to antibiotics. Other pathological issues include cross-contamination of foods, meat animal manure disposal issues, foodborne illness, and food safety programs at the farm. Other challenges include food additives, chemical residues, animal identification, traceability issues, quality and safety of organic and natural products associated with it.
FARE Labs possesses state-of-the-art instruments and our team of technical experts utilize analytical solutions for testing and analysis of raw meat, verification and testing of finished meat products, and process optimization. We focus on taking care and carrying out precautionary testing of meat and meat related food products in terms of food safety especially in current situations. Species determination plays a central role in the regulation of the genuineness and marketability of a product. We offer several methods and reference procedures for animal species identification, including ELISA, qualitative PCR, quantitative real-time PCR and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA. In addition to these services, we also provide authentication for halal/kosher meat.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 regulates and ensures the processed meat sector to supply safe and quality products so as to satisfy the wants of international trade and make the Indian food and meat industry competitive within the global market.
