Halal Food Safety: PCR Based Detection of Porcine DNA in Imported Chocolate

Halal food and food products consumption is a major part of living in Muslim community. Pork meat or meat items are not considered halal in Muslim countries and consumers. Ensuring pork-free food items is a challenge for the food industry and exporters to Muslim nations. This study aims to detect porcine DNA in imported chocolate products in Bangladesh for halal safety assurance. The imported chocolate samples were collected from various multi shops in Dhaka. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is used in our research to detect the porcine DNA. Two primer sets are used for the detection of porcine mitochondrial cyt-b (cytochrome-b) gene fragments in chocolate samples. To visualize the amplified DNA, agarose gel (1%) was used. After electrophoresis, DNA band in agarose gel indicated that the gene fragments are amplified properly. In our research, out of 42 chocolate samples, only 2 samples were found positive. The chocolate samples were branded as Wild Berry Flavor Chocolate and Cadbury Milk Tray Chocolate. In comparison with the positive pork sample, these two samples also containing the 165bp and 359bp fragment of the porcine cytochrome b gene. We reported that chocolate products contain the pork contamination were not labeled as halal. While other samples that did not have any halal logo originated from outside Bangladesh and imported also showed negative result. The present study established the DNA-based porcine detection system based on mitochondrial cyt-b that is viable in highly processed products. It can be used in the halal certification process to determine the pork items presence in food and halal safety. Our research also reported that imported chocolates should halal certify before release into the market.