Applying Light, Histochemical and Scanning Histological Methods for the Detection of Unauthorized Animal and Herbal Content in Street Meat Sandwich: What is in the Sandwich We Eat?

Abstract

Samples of the total of 105 different meat sandwiches products were examined (Kofta, Hawawshi, and shawerma sandwich, 35 sandwiches from each type of product were collected from New Valley City from different restaurants during the year 2016 and analyzed by light and scanning electron microscope for detection of meat adulteration. Select half samples from each group for light and histochemical microscopic examination and the rest of the same group for scanning electron microscopic examination. The sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin, PAS, Wigert's and Crossman's trichrome, bromophenol protein and ATPase enzyme. The histological examination revealed that a variety of tissue types besides skeletal muscle were observed including connective tissue fibers, Lung, ruminant stomach, Large elastic blood vessels, heart muscle, adipose tissue, cartilage (hyaline and white fibrocartilage) and spongy bone, lymphatic tissue (spleen), plant materials, in addition to sand particles. With use ATPase enzyme staining can suspect fetal tissue in Hawawshi meat with abundant dark (slow contracted) muscle fiber than light (fast contracting) muscle fibers. The findings of the present research suggest the histological technique as an effective method for qualitative evaluations of street meat sandwich adulteration.