TaqMan multiplex qPCR for detecting animal species in meat and meat products: Development, recent advances and future prospects

Meat and meat products are in great demand globally due to their source of high-quality protein and other nutrients. However, the prevalence of food fraud, mislabeling in meat products, and the increasing threat of zoonotic diseases pose significant and urgent challenges for the industry. Therefore, quantitative detection of the species origin of raw meat and meat products is crucial in food control to guard manufacturers and consumers. The molecular-based method such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the powerful techniques developed to detect and quantify adulterants in meat species. Among the methods, multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (mqPCR) assay using a probe such as TaqMan probe is one of the current methods explored for meat speciation. This up-to-date review addresses the design, development, recent advancement and applications of TaqMan probe-based mqPCR techniques to authentic meat products. Future prospects and potential challenges of the existing methods are summarized. Overall, the current review article contains substantive attributes to be a reference guide for academia and industrialist to improve and modify existing mqPCR assays in the detection of meat products including halal meats for food control.