Evaluation of a commercial lateral flow feed test for rapid detection of beef and sheep content in raw and cooked meats

Meat species adulteration is a common problem in the retail market. This study investigated the feasibility of a commercial lateral flow immunoassay designed to detect ruminant muscle tissue in feedstuffs, such as “meat-and-bone meal” (MBM) for detection of beef and/or sheep flesh in meat mixtures, and developed a simple method for meat sample extraction. Laboratory adulterated samples including raw, cooked (100 °C, 30 min), and sterilized (121 °C, 15 min) beef-in-chicken, beef-in-turkey, and lamb-in-pork at 0 to 1.00% (w/w) adulteration levels were extracted by different solvents (tap water, NaCl, and PB–NaCl with and without EDTA; and a kit-provided “Extraction Solvent”) using three mixing methods. The test rapidly (20 min) detected 0.50% (w/w) bovine or ovine meat; Extraction Solvent was the most efficient extractant tested; EDTA coupled with heating (100 °C, 10 min) improved the assay sensitivity; and all the mixing methods achieved the same results. This immunoassay can be conveniently applied to detect low levels of beef/sheep meat in a wide range of meat products.