Sainsbury starts DNA meat traceability - Brief Article

Eurofood, March 29, 2001

DNA testing is the latest weapon for supermarkets in the war to regain consumer confidence in the wake of the many food safety scares over recent years. UK-based supermarket chain Sainsbury has introduced its Traceback[TM] DNA traceability system for its traditional beef. Sainsbury is claiming to be the first UK supermarket to guarantee the absolute traceability of its traditional beef "from pasture to plate".

However, although not strictly classed as a supermarket, UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) seemingly beat Sainsbury to use DNA in assuring the traceability of its meat products, thanks to its agreement with Whatman Biotechnologies (see Eurofood, 15 March 2001, p9). Sainsbury's Traceback[TM] system works in exactly the same way as the M&S system, with animal DNA being taken and then stored in a database. This gives the retailer a complete history of the animal.

Sainsbury expressed that it was using its DNA system only on its Traditional Beef, which is the largest premium beef brand on sale in the UK, but ultimately it wants the technology to cover all meat. Sainsbury says the cost of TracebackTM system will not be passed on to consumers.