Research into constituents of animal origin

Animal-derived constituent testing aims to detect the presence of animal traces —such as meat, gelatin, milk, eggs, or animal fat—in various food, cosmetic, or nutraceutical products.
This analysis is essential to ensure ingredient traceability , compliance with regulatory requirements , and compliance with “vegetarian,” “vegan,” or “halal” labels .

It addresses issues of security, labeling, authenticity and transparency in the agri-food and cosmetic production chains.

Principle and methods of analysis

The detection of constituents of animal origin is based on high-sensitivity biomolecular and immunological techniques

• PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) : allows the amplification and identification of DNA sequences specific to an animal species . This method is particularly effective for the detection of meat, milk or gelatin after thermal processing.
• ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) : is based on the recognition of specific antigens (animal proteins) by antibodies. It is suitable for the detection of residual animal proteins.
• DNA sequencing (NGS – Next Generation Sequencing) simultaneous multi-species identification , ideal for complex products or mixtures of ingredients.

These approaches guarantee high specificity and sensitivity , even on transformed, hydrolyzed or low concentration matrices.

For additional analyses, discover:

• the search for constituents of plant origin for the detection of plant traces,
• taxonomic study for the identification of species from DNA,
• and product authenticity analysis to ensure compliance with labeling.

Industrial applications

This analysis applies to many sectors where traceability and ethical compliance are essential:

• Animal nutrition : verification of the absence of prohibited animal proteins in food for non-carnivorous animals.
• Food industry : control of compliance with “pork-free”, “animal gelatin-free”, or “100% vegetarian” in foodstuffs and additives.
• Cosmetics : validation of the origin of raw materials (gelatin, collagen, keratin, lanolin, etc.) for vegan and natural ranges.
• Nutraceuticals and food supplements : verification of the nature of the excipients, capsules or additives used (gelatin, lactose, casein, etc.).
• Control of ethical and religious labels halal , kosher , vegetarian or vegan specifications .

This approach allows manufacturers and distributors to strengthen consumer confidence and secure their marketing claims.

Analytical interest and complementarity

The search for constituents of animal origin is part of a set of authenticity and traceability aimed at securing the production chain:

• DNA authenticity analysis to confirm the genetic composition of raw materials,
• GMO search to verify the absence of transgenic sequences,
• Total protein assay to correlate the presence of animal matter,
• Allergen analysis to detect traces of milk, egg or fish,
• DNA sequencing (barcoding) to precisely identify the species present in a sample.

These additional tests provide complete traceability of ingredients and guarantee regulatory and ethical compliance of products.

YesWeLab Services

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of ISO 17025 and/or COFRAC , experts in authenticity, genetic and traceability analyses .
Our teams select the method best suited to your needs (targeted PCR, ELISA, NGS) according to the matrix to be analyzed and the required detection threshold.

Thanks to the YesWeLab digital platform , manufacturers can centralize their analyses, track their samples and consult their reports directly online.
Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting players in animal nutrition, agri-food and cosmetics safety, compliance and product development processes .

For any specific requests or quotes, contact our scientific team today.