Shoppers will soon be able to tell whether the Aberdeen Angus beef they’re buying is the real deal after successful trials of a new DNA testing system.

The Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society has worked with IdentiGEN to offer DNA ‘TraceBack’ technology to processors to test whether a slaughtered animal has been sired by a pure-bred Aberdeen Angus bull.

A positive result means the beef can be marketed as Certified Aberdeen Angus Beef (CAAB), using an on-pack logo. The technology has been trialled but the society hopes it will go into commercial use once a retailer signs up to the CAAB scheme.

The new DNA technology would provide reassurance to consumers, said the society’s chief executive, Ron McHattie.

“Consumers want reassurance that when they are buying the CAAB brand, they are getting great tasting, 100% traceable Certified Aberdeen Angus beef,” he said.

Aberdeen Angus beef - stocked by M&S, Waitrose and Burger King, among others - was the fastest-growing breed of beef cattle in the world and it was crucial the society protected the integrity and quality of its brand, he added.

TraceBack would give CAAB a competitive edge and would also help with the routine monitoring of CAAB beef and help to improve beef quality in future, McHattie added.

IdentiGEN co-founder Dr Ronan Loftus said: “Consumers are increasingly savvy and want to know where the food they buy and eat comes from, and the system offers a new quality benchmark.”

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