Retail group Massmart will sponsor Honours level postgraduate research in the University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits’) Department of Molecular and Cell Biology aimed at improving the technique used to extract genetic material from tinned seafood products.
Massmart uses genetic identity testing, in partnership with Wits, as an added precaution to ensure the company is not supplied with red-listed or critically endangered seafood species.
Massmart marine conservation sustainability manager Viratha Hariram explains that the current seafood deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction process is reasonably effective for fresh and frozen seafood products, but is less reliable for tinned seafood.
This is owing to DNA fragmentation caused by the processing and preservation of the product. Therefore, Massmart has decided to sponsor research to explore options to improve the process.
The research will be conducted by a team of two Wits Honours microbiology students to evaluate alternate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification methods to improve the usability of the fragmented DNA strands of tinned seafood.
These methods will enable the quick and reliable verification of the accuracy of seafood species information described on tinned seafood labelling of products sold by Massmart’s Makro, Game and Jumbo stores.
Wits lecturer Michael Tobin, who will oversee the research conducted by the students, says that, with new PCR chemistries, the effect of DNA fragmentation can be minimised and better increase identification of processed fish samples by between 15% and 20%.
Massmart was the first local retailer to conduct genetic identity testing across all its private brand seafood products.