ADFCA Laboratories Division the first in the country to use DNA chips in food testing
Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA)'s laboratories are the first in the UAE to use DNA chips in testing the DNA extracted from food products. This technique is used to detect mixing of meats and pork derivatives in foods.
The technique involves the extraction of DNA and its study using DNA chips with high potency and sensitivity. This technique is capable of unearthing DNA even if its quantity is less than 10 nano gram.
The microbiology unit of the Laboratories Division under the Food Safety Sector at ADFCA succeeded in extracting DNA from samples of Gelatin Marshmallow cookies in order to find out if they contained pork derivatives. This was an accomplishment in which the laboratories division preceded many international laboratories. Extracting DNA from this kind of samples is deemed very hard.
This technique, along with the analysis of DNA to detect genetically modified food, will be examined by the officials of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) during an upcoming visit. During the visit, 12 new analytical methods will be considered for accreditation. This is in addition to 13 methods already accredited in 2011. This will make the total number of accreditations won by the Laboratories Division more than 100, which include chemical, microbiological and radiological methods.
