"Wild" Conditions in Online Retailing

More and more consumers are buying food over the Internet. However, this trend also entails risks, particularly with regard to the authenticity or composition of processed products such as meat or sausage products. Do customers get what they paid for? Studies have shown that consumers cannot always rely on the indication of the animal species when buying food online. In particular, errors and fraud can occur with rare and protected animals and with species that are not commonly found in Europe. DNA metabarcoding enables the unambiguous identification of animal products processed in food and can thus contribute to strengthening consumer protection.

Metabarcoding provides information about ingredients

DNA metabarcoding can be used to distinguish animal species on the basis of their DNA. Particularly for foods in which the meat of different animal species has been processed, DNA metabarcoding can be used to verify the authenticity of the ingredients. This is particularly relevant for mixtures that also contain unusual or novel animal species such as insects. Consequently, the technique plays a crucial role in consumer protection and in combating fraud in the food trade. Genetic analysis can be used to precisely identify the ingredients of food and verify their authenticity. DNA metabarcoding is a promising method for ensuring the authenticity of food, strengthening consumer protection, and helping to increase consumer confidence and make the food market more transparent and fair.