Dubai Central Laboratory uses advanced techniques for detection of pork contaminants

Eng. Hawa Bastaki, Director of Dubai Central Laboratory Department of Dubai Municipality said that DCL is always keen to be the best product confidence vendor at the global level, thus contributing to the realization of the vision of Dubai Municipality of creating an excellent city that provides the essence of success and comfort of living.

"In order to enhance the confidence of consumers and in response to some questions and messages we received on the extent of pork contaminants in Crispy Cream Donuts, we have been conducting thorough examinations of the samples to verify the components," she said.

Maha Al Hajri, Head of Food and Environment Lab in the Dubai Central Laboratory Department said the samples covered by the survey did not show any positive results in the presence of pork contaminants or pork derivatives.

The technology can detect these contaminants, even if in small quantities as the techniques used are of the latest used worldwide. The DCL is the first laboratory at the country using molecular diagnostic techniques based on DNA content for the detection of such pork contaminants.

Dr. Mazin Abbas, a specialist in genetic engineering and biotechnology in the Dubai Central Laboratory said the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, which is an excellent technique used by DCL to detect the presence of pork contaminants, can detect the presence of these contaminants, even if in small quantities as the routine traditional techniques used for the purpose can fail in detecting minute contents.

It should be noted that the Food and Environment Laboratory provides training courses on the use of such modern technology to food analysts interested in such a modern and accurate tests, in addition to a number of specialized training courses using molecular diagnostic techniques and the DCL is a unique lab to conduct them.