Meat Speciation Assessment of ‘Tinko’ Meat Sold in Lagos Market

Abstract

The fraudulent substitution of high quality meat with cheaper counterpart is a common practice prevalent in the meat industry. Tinko is one of the most popular traditional hard-smoked and sun-dried meat products, mostly from cattle and transport beasts widely consumed in Nigeria and neighboring countries. This product can however be adulterated by the first stage processors. Meat speciation can be used to validate the animal species from which Tinko is produced. This study was therefore carried out to assess the state of Tinko sold in Lagos markets. Four batches each of Tinko were purchased from Oyingbo, Mile 12 and Agege markets in Lagos state and subjected to DNA extraction using Dellaporta DNA extraction protocol to determine the meat species. Amplified fragment and purification of gene was also carried out and were sequenced using standard procedure. The result of gene analysis showed that the Tinko sampled from the three open markets in Lagos were made from donkey (a work animal) as against the processors’ claim that Tinko sold was made from beef carcass. In conclusion, speciation revealed that most Tinko meat sold in the sampled open markets were not beef as believed by consumers. Therefore, monitoring program should be carried out to control meat adulteration and ensure declaration of meat species by processors.