Detection of central nervous system tissues as BSE specified risk material in meat products in Turkey

Spinal cord and brain tissues have the highest importance to transfer bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to human. European Union issued complete removal of spinal cord and brain tissues from meat products (Commission Decision 2000/418/EC). In Turkey, regulation on meat products [Turkish Food Code, Regulation on Meat Products. Official Journal No: 23960, 10 Feb, 2000] is applied by their government veterinarians. But there are some questions on the effective application of the regulation especially in some private slaughterhouses. This study was designed to represent the mixing of these tissues to meat products which sold in Marmara region of Turkey. For this purpose, a total of 179 meat product samples belonged to 17 different trademarks were tested. A semi-quantitative ELISA kit, which detects glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as marker, was used. In the test, standard controls 0, 0.2%, 1%, and 2% were practiced. Of the 179 sampled, 18 samples (10.05%) gave an optical density over than standard 0.2%. Optical density of three samples was near to standard 1%. It is concluded that central nervous system tissue mixing to the meat products still happen and more effective control measurements needs to be developed and applied in Turkey. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.