Identification of pork in beef meatballs using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction

A study on development of Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometric method combined with principle component analysis as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction for determination of pork–beef mixture in meatballs has been performed. A lipid component extracted from pork and beef in meatballs is analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, while DNA extracted from meatball was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The correlation between actual and predicted concentration of lard using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was performed by aid of partial least squares, while grouping of lard and beef fat components in meatball was carried out by Fourier-transform infrared spectra coupled with principle component analysis. The results showed that Fourier-transform infrared spectra at wavenumbers of 1000–1200 cm^?1 coupled with partial least square and principle component analysis are successfully used for quantification and classification of pork in beef meatballs. The relationship between actual value and predicted value of lard (lipid fraction obtained from meatballs containing pork) with Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometric method revealed good correlation, with coefficient determination (R²) value of 0.997 and standard error of calibration of 0.04%. Principle component analysis is able to classify samples containing pork and beef meatballs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy using normal spectra is fast technique for identification and quantification of lard extracted from pork in meatball. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction using Leptin Primer–AJ 865080 can be used for amplification of pork DNA specifically in meatballs containing pork.