IdentiGEN in the News

 

Release - August 2003

Japanese supermarket interest in DNA traceability system for meat

A group of senior executives from member organisations of CGC (Cooperative Grocery Chain) Japan, the buying group for over 3,000 supermarkets, recently visited Ireland as part of a trade mission focused on innovation in the retail sector.

The group, comprised of 30 executives from supermarket chains, trading houses and local co-ops met with Fergal Quinn, Chairman of the Superquinn chain of supermarkets and representatives of IdentiGEN Ltd, developers of DNA TraceBack™ - the worlds first DNA based traceability system for meat.

Superquinn were the first supermarket group in the world to introduce DNA traceability for all their beef, in response to consumer demand for greater quality, safety and transparency within the supply chain. Following the BSE crisis which hit European markets in 2001, Superquinn launched a marketing campaign to communicate the DNA traceability concept to their consumers, underpinning an 11% increase in beef sales.

Atsuhiro Horiuchi, President of CGC Japan Ltd said that CGC member organisations had much to learn from Superquinn and IdentiGENs DNA traceability system, and hoped that such a system could be introduced to Japan to restore confidence in meat labelling. 

Japans meat industry suffered a serious crisis following the discovery of BSE in the national herd and the wide-scale mislabelling of meat products to avail of government subsidies. The country is introducing stricter traceability measures to help restore consumer confidence in meat.

 

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