The bioMérieux FoodExpert-ID microarray, powered by Affymetrix GeneChip® technology, allows scientists to genetically identify the presence or absence of 33 different species of animals in any food product.

The presence of unwanted or unknown animal species in food, can have a range of effects from benign to deathly serious and is of great concern for public health, economic, religious and legal reasons. Manufacturers and consumers alike have been unable to examine the composition of food at a molecular level. However, for the first time, the bioMérieux FoodExpert-ID Array is being used to detect DNA sequences specific to an animal, allowing species composition to be determined, safeguarding the purity and authenticity of food products.

Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays are designed to simultaneously and specifically detect different gene sequences, making the array a natural technology to distinguish between animal species that might be present in food.

To fully understand how this array can help to ensure food purity and food safety, let's first look at how the microarray works to identify animal tissue in a sample.