Meat&Poultry - January 2012 - 62

DNA TRACEBACK

“The markets here [in the US] as compared to Ireland and Great Britain are gargantuan,” Loftus says. Some adjustments to the processes and procedures of implementing a DNA traceback system have had to be made including incorporating robotics into the process and adding extra training for personnel responsible for obtaining samples in larger, fasterpaced operations. “We’ve tried hard to develop the technology so it can be easily overlayed within existing operations,” Loftus added. There is a minimal, if any, capital cost for individual operations adding a DNA traceback system – unless robotics are needed, he says. “Our goal was to develop a system that would assure there would be no substantial impact on production lines.” Most of the work is done by IdentiGEN in its Lawrence,Kan., laboratory. All samples are analyzed there – no third-party labs are used because of technology’s intricate nature.
(Photo courtesy of IdentiGEN)

and producer of Aurora Angus Beef was one of the fi rst US beef companies to start exporting DNA-traceable beef to South Korea. There is a growing demand in South Korea for US beef, however, South Korea also puts strong importance on traceable product. A Sept. 26, 2011, study by the US Meat Export Federation reported that South Korea has adopted mandatory traceability programs for its domestic beef, as well as its imports. The report states, “As more countries adopt animal and meat tracking systems, those early adopters of livestock and meat traceability systems have the opportunity to gain significant market advantages through increased consumer confidence.” “Aurora Angus Beef meets Korea’s high standards for quality and consistency, but we needed DNA traceability to complete the picture,” Zoet says.” Aurora’s use of DNA traceability was approved as a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) after an extensive review and on-site audit of the company’s operations. PVP for pork provides companies with a verification service for specific processes within their organization. The program ensures that processes at the meat processing facilities meet quality standards that are verified by USDA and continually verified by independent third-party audits. Upon acceptance by USDA, companies are allowed to market their products as “USDA Process Verified.” IdentiGEN’s DNA TraceBack system received PVP approval in November 2007.

Exporting advantages
This technology can be very helpful to processors and packers interested in exporting their product. Many of the Asian export markets, in particular, are demanding traceability information before approving exports. A premium price will be paid in those export markets so many processors are seeing the added value of incorporating a DNA traceability program. Aurora, Ill.-based Aurora Packing Co. started its partnership with IdentiGEN in July 2011 to provide DNAtraceability technology for its US and export customers. Aurora Angus Beef with DNA TraceBack is being marketed to high-end restaurants and retail stores. Angus origins are verified

Many processors are seeing the added value of incorporating a DNA traceability program.
using the animal’s unique DNA barcode, which is gathered from samples taken at various stages of production. “Aurora is committed to delivering complete transparency to our customers,” says Lowell Zoet, vice president and general manager of Aurora Packing Co. “We like DNA-based traceability because it offers foolproof assurance to consumers that Aurora Angus has been produced according to the highest standards as set forth in our program.” The 70-year-old premium packer

Consumer confidence
Sturgeon Valley Pork, Alberta, Canada, started using DNA traceability technology a year-and-a-half ago as a third-

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