Composition and Species Testing

Composition testing measures how much of a component is present; species testing asks which animal material is present. They require different methods and reference materials.

A heterogeneous sausage, layered product or large lot may not be represented by one grab sample. The sampling plan must match the decision and expected distribution.

Gravimetric, chemical, spectroscopic, immunological and DNA-based methods have different selectivity, detection limits and vulnerability to processing effects.

PCR and related approaches can detect species DNA, but heat, pressure, curing and highly refined ingredients may affect recovery or interpretation.

Testing supports label verification, fraud investigation, allergen control, specification compliance and process troubleshooting. It does not replace supplier approval or traceability.

Use an appropriate accredited or competent laboratory, preserve chain of custody, define uncertainty and decision rules, and investigate results against batch and supplier records.