SGS Partners with Biopremier Providing DNA Sequencing, to Reduce Food Fraud and Improve Safety

A new partnership between SGS and Biopremier, specialists in molecular biology and DNA sequencing, will deliver next generation sequencing (NGS) to the global food supply chain.

Reliable Testing for Biological Content

In an industry where customer and consumer trust is paramount, NGS services from SGS and Biopremier make identifying the biological content of food faster, more efficient and without the risk of false positive results. NGS is a DNA diagnostic tool which identifies the biological content of a food sample, including:

- Meat
- Microorganisms
- Plants
- Seafood
- Allergens

Advantages of Next Generation Sequencing with Biopremier

Unlike traditional PCR analysis, which identifies/excludes specific targets one test at a time, NGS uses DNA sequencing. The true benefit is that a single test can analyse and identify the full biological content of a food sample. For example, with just one test, NGS DNA sequencing will tell you exactly which meat species are present in a hamburger. SGS’ partnership with Biopremier gives access to an NGS database of more than 4,000 species of meat, and new species are being added all the time. For fish, molluscs, crustaceans, spices, birds, reptiles and others, the NGS database is even bigger.

The potential benefits of NGS to the food industry, which loses some USD 10-15 billion annually to fraud, are immense. It is now possible to test for and highlight meat and seafood substitution, and allergen contamination within a cost-effective and timely process.

“Our partnership with Biopremier is a real advantage for SGS’ food supply chain customers. It can help to speed up testing, reduce food fraud and improve food safety,” said Olivier Coppey, EVP at SGS. “Food safety is at the heart of our business, and we are proud to now make this very specific and sensitive technology available to the food supply chain.”

About Biopremier

Biopremier is a biotechnology company specializing in Agri-Food. With its ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, Biopremier provides services based on DNA methods, which were developed in-house for a wide range of clients.

About SGS Food Safety

Leveraging their global network of laboratories and food experts, SGS provides a comprehensive range of safety and quality solutions for agriculture and food, including analytical tests, audits, certifications, inspections, and technical support. SGS continually invests in testing, capability, and state-of-the art technology to help their clients reduce human health risks improve food safety and quality.

For further information, please contact an SGS expert.

SGS
Jennifer Buckley
Global Food Marketing Manager

Phone:  +1 (973) 461 1498
Email: [email protected]  
Website: http://www.sgs.com/foodsafety
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/sgs-agriculture-&-food

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.