An extensive study of burgers is making waves after researchers detected traces of rat DNA and human DNA in products meant for human consumption.
Food analytics start-up Clear Labs analysed 258 burger products on sale in northern California. 13.6 per cent were found to be “problematic” in some way – although only 1 per cent raised hygiene concerns. "It is unlikely that human DNA or rat DNA is harmful to consumer health"Clear Labs
Two vegetarian burgers were found to contain trace amounts of beef DNA, and one burger advertised as being made of beef contained pork DNA, raising concerns for anyone avoiding pork for religious reasons.
Three burger samples tested positive for rat DNA, and one was found to contain human DNA – although food experts said this was not a major cause of concern.