title: A Genetic Method To Evaluate the Prevalence of Unique DNA Profiles between Sequential Ground Beef Batches.
abstract: The delineation of ground beef batches has implications for the management of product disposition policies in the event of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli contamination. Analysis of individual contributor animal-specific DNA profiles can provide valuable empirical data for understanding the dynamics of ground meat production processes and can act as a surrogate for cross-contamination. A genetic method was developed for characterizing the source raw material flow and carryover between discrete batches of ground beef in a large-scale commercial beef grinding operation. The application developed involves the introduction of a genetically distinct source raw material batch into the grinding system and comprehensive sampling of that index batch and subsequent batches followed by single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of random subsamples. Capture-mark-recapture statistical techniques were used to estimate (i) the number of carcass contributors and (ii) the associated level of carryover between batches. Carryover, expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the batch material (in pounds), was observed between the genetically distinct index batch and the next sequential batch at approximately 1%. The nondetection of additional carryover to subsequent batches, with a detection level of approximately 0.2%, supports a serial dilution model of same source raw material carryover, consistent with the recorded weight of beef trimmings used in each batch. For ground beef manufacturers, this method is a simple approach for validating the independence of finished batches of beef in their grind systems in support of product disposition policies.
authors.affiliation: IdentiGEN North America Inc., 2029 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, USA (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3640-9898 [B.C.]).
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: IdentiGEN North America Inc., 2029 Becker Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, USA (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3640-9898 [B.C.]).
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.affiliation: IdentiGEN Ltd., Blackrock Office Park, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: IdentiGEN Ltd., Blackrock Office Park, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meghen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D019453:Escherichia coli O157; D005506:Food Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D008460:Meat; D008461:Meat Products; D015995:Prevalence; D000069466:Red Meat; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Capture-mark-recapture methods; Genotyping; Ground beef products; Raw material independence