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Listen to this siteTuesday 26 October 2004
This research project aims to develop methods to verify labelling claims of origin of beef.
Study Duration : September 2002 to August 2005
Contractor : University of East Anglia, Institute of Food Research
As a result of concerns relating to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), human variant CJD and the impact on the Internal Market for Beef, the EU has produced new legislation concerning labelling of beef. The introduction of EU-wide compulsory beef labelling rules, from 1 September 2000 onwards [(EC) No 2772/1999] should provide consumers with correct, complete and transparent information to enable them to make an informed choice on the type and origin of beef they purchase.
Therefore this research aims to develop analytical methods that can verify origin labels describing where an animal has been reared. It is inevitable that at some time in the future attempts will be made to subvert the beef labelling regulations through, for example consumer-preference/premium-values for beef from a particular geographical origin.
The project uses a combination of multi-element and multi-isotopic techniques with statistical analysis to determine the geographical origin of beef. The feasibility of this approach has already been demonstrated with dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese.
Therefore this project seeks to build on existing knowledge, applying these types of techniques to well-characterised samples of beef from different regions within Europe and the UK.
This will include:
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