title: Sensory analysis and species-specific PCR detect bovine milk adulteration of frescal (fresh) goat cheese.
abstract: The Brazilian market for dairy products made from goat milk is increasing despite the seasonality of production and naturally small milk production per animal, factors that result in high-priced products and encourage fraud. In Brazil, no official analytical method exists for detecting adulteration of goat dairy products with cow milk. The aim of this study was to design a strategy to investigate the adulteration of frescal (fresh) goat cheeses available in the Rio de Janeiro retail market, combining analysis of cheese composition and the perception of adulteration by consumers. Commercial goat cheeses were tested by using a duplex PCR assay previously designed to authenticate cheeses, by targeting the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA genes of both species simultaneously. The PCR test was able to detect 0.5% (vol/vol) cow milk added during goat cheese formulation. The analysis of 20 locally produced goat cheeses (20 lots of 4 brands) showed that all were adulterated with cow milk, even though the labels did not indicate the addition of cow milk. To estimate the ability of consumers to perceive the fraudulent addition of cow milk, a triangle test was performed, in which cheeses formulated with several different proportions of goat and cow milk were offered to 102 regular consumers of cheese. Detection threshold analysis indicated that almost half of the consumers were able to perceive adulteration at 10% (vol/vol) cow milk. Effective actions must be implemented to regulate the market for goat dairy products in Brazil, considering the rights and choices of consumers with respect to their particular requirements for diet and health, preference, and cost.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149 Cidade Universitária 21949-909, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Golinelli
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. do Aloízio, 50 - Granja dos Cavaleiros, Macaé 27930-560, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149 Cidade Universitária 21949-909, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Casaes
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149 Cidade Universitária 21949-909, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: C S C
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos, Av. das Américas 29501 23020-470, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deliza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149 Cidade Universitária 21949-909, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: paschv@iq.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: V M F
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Paschoalin
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149 Cidade Universitária 21949-909, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002417:Cattle; D002611:Cheese / Q000032:analysis*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003611:Dairy Products; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012677:Sensation; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C075526:RNA, ribosomal, 12S; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: bovine and caprine species-specific PCR; consumer detection threshold; frescal (fresh) goat cheese; mitochondrial DNA