Does Your Retailer Know Where Their Meat Is Coming From?

Retailers in the UK and Ireland have been using DNA TraceBack® for many years following a food scare in the 1990's when consumers stopped buying beef. Retailers such as Superquinn, Dunnes, Tesco and Sainsbury's have all relied on DNA TraceBack® to reassure their customers that the meat they sell in store is safe, fresh and of high quality.

In Canada the Provincial government of Alberta recently sponsored a research and development program to trial DNA TraceBack® for beef produced in Alberta. The feedback from Canadian consumers indicates that they seen value in 100% traceability and would feel reassured when buying meat products with the DNA TraceBack® stamp on the label.

• Why is DNA TraceBack® not being used by more retailers?
• Why are many consumers currently buying meat without guaranteed traceability?

For retailers to use DNA TraceBack® it costs just 3 cents per pound of meat. That's just an extra 3 cents on the price of a pack of 16oz steaks. Or put another way, about 0.5% on average price. Would you notice an extra 3 cents on your grocery bill? Your retailers think you would and that is the principle reason they are not using this technology. Another reason could be that they don't want you to know - not every retailer wants to know that perhaps their meat is not what it is supposed to be, so long as they can buy it at the cheapest price.

If you would like your retailer to start using DNA TraceBack® or want to know more about our scientific program please visit our blog and tell us which retailer you shop in and why you think they should guarantee the traceability of their meat.

You can also check out DNA TraceBack® on Twitter, Facebook and Bebo. Follow us to see what other consumers think about food safety and DNA TraceBack®.