New screening test detects meat and bone meal in animal feeds and thereby facilitate compliance with regulations restricting their use
Currently, the use of mammalian-derived meat and bone meal (MBM) in cattle feed is prohibited or highly regulated in most countries due to its potential to spread Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as 'Mad Cow Disease'. As a precautionary measure, Europe has restricted the use of MBM from any species in animal feeds.
A new screening test, recently introduced by SDI Europe, is designed to detect MBM in animal feed, thereby facilitating compliance with regulations.
FeedChek is a two-in-one test strip which incorporates two tests into one. The first test indicates the presence of any MBM (avian and mammal), while the second test indicates the presence of mammalian derived MBM in the sample.
On 6 June 2003, SDI announced the results of a comparison study performed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Union, which included FeedChek.
The study evaluated how well European laboratories can classify feed samples containing different types of processed animal proteins and meat and bone meal.
Microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoassays were included in the study. FeedChek was the only immunoassay to achieve 100% specificity, sensitivity and accuracy when testing for total processed animal proteins.
FeedChek detected mammalian meat and bone meal (MMBM) at the lowest concentration tested, 0.1%, even when the samples had been processed at high temperatures and pressures.
In validation studies using 17 varieties of finished feed (mixed green, pelleted, or milled), the test was demonstrated to detect 0.1% (w/w) MBM in animal feeds.
Mammalian- specific MBM was detected as low as 1%(w/w).
In addition to its accuracy and reliability, the FeedChek test is quick and simple to use.
It has a 15 second extraction process and provides results in 10 minutes and requires no laboratory equipment to perform the test.
