Qualitative PCR for the detection of chicken and pork adulteration in goose and mule duck foie gras

Polymerase chain reaction amplification of a conserved region of the (alpha)-actin gene has been used for specific identification of chicken (Gallus gallus) and pork (Sus scrofa domesticus) adulteration in goose (Anser anser) and mule duck (Anasplatyrhynchos × Cairinamoschata) foie gras. The design of species-specific forward primers, together with a reverse universal primer, allowed the generation of amplicons of different lengths in each species. The different sizes of the species-specific amplicons, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, allowed clear identification of the presence chicken and pork in goose and mule duck foie gras with a detection limit of 0.1% (w/w). The technique could be used in inspection programmes to enforce labelling regulation of foie gras and other meat products.