DETECTION OF IRRADIATED CHICKEN MEAT BY ANALYSIS OF LIPID EXTRACTS FOR 2-SUBSTITUTED CYCLOBUTANONES USING AN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY

The means to detect the irradiation of food has been investigated for many years. In recent times radiolytic products, termed 2-alkylcyclobu tanones (2-CBs), have been identified as excellent markers of irradiat ion in lipid-containing foods. An ELISA test was developed, which was capable of detecting a number of these compounds in irradiated chicken meat. A polyclonal antiserum was raised to a 2-CB containing a termin al carboxyl group conjugated to a carrier protein. This antiserum was highly specific for cyclobutanones containing C-10 and C-12 side chain s. During assay validation the limit of detection of the assay was cal culated to be 0.064 pg of 2-CB per gram of fat, within- and between-as say variations ranged from 6.7 to 18%. During experimental studies, ch icken meat irradiated at doses ranging from 2.5 to 10 kGy were assayed and correctly identified as being treated. Quantitative comparisons b etween the ELISA and CC-MS revealed a good correlation (r(2) = 0.913) between the two methodologies in concentrations of 2-CB detected in ir radiated samples.