Abstract: This study was aimed to establish a rapid method for the identification of adulterated meat and meat products. Five pairs of species-specific primers, yielding amplicons having significantly different melting temperatures (Tm), were designed targeting the mitochondrial COXⅠ gene of pig and bovine, the 16S rRNA gene of sheep, goat, dog, fox and raccoon, and the 12S rRNA gene of chicken and duck, respectively. The established multiplex RT-PCR-melting curve analysis method was evaluated in term of specificity and sensitivity and was applied in the detection of commercial meat products. The method showed a good speci?city and sensitivity, and was able to detect 0.001–1 ng of DNA from single species and 0.1 ng of DNA form mixed species. Thus, it can be used to test both raw and processed meat products.

Key words: meat adulteration, multiplex real-time PCR, melting curve analysis, SYBR Green dye, animal-derived ingredient