Development of a rapid mitochondrial DNA extraction method for species identification in milk and milk products

Isolation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from milk offers an effective way to monitor aspects of quality control and traceability to ensure food safety. A few methods of DNA isolation from milk have been reported, but many of them are time consuming and expensive. Here, we report a rapid, simple, and efficient method of mtDNA extraction from raw and processed milk (pasteurized, retorted, and UHT milk) to generate substrate for analysis using any PCR analysis platform. Various techniques used for the separation of mitochondria were explored and combined with a sodium dodecyl sulfate method for mtDNA extraction from raw and processed milk. The optimized protocol supports the efficient amplification of mtDNA independent of sample origin and is sufficiently straightforward to allow its widespread adoption by industry.