It could soon be possible to trace pork offal products back to individual farms, reducing potential market damage associated with health scares.
A researcher in Perth is working on a method which analyses constituent trace elements to improve Australia’s standing on the world export market, Science Network WA reports.
Forensic chemist Nataxha Kreitals, who is performing the research as part of a PhD thesis, says the work would complement an existing database of trace-elemental signatures for pork muscle tissue.
“Bioaccumulation of trace elements differs between offal and muscle, so direct comparisons to the database are inaccurate” she said.
When her work is complete, she said the process would help ensure products sold and labelled as Australian pork are genuine.
It would also limit the limitations placed on farmers if a health issue arose, as the affected operation could be quickly located and others could continue selling.
“We don’t eat a lot of the pork offal in Australia, but we do export it, and it’s actually a really important commodity for the Australian pork industry,” Kreitals said.