In Sohag City, 400 samples were collected from different food markets of different meat products from two companies with high and low prices (e.g., minced meat, kofta sausage, beef burger, and luncheon meat) for determining food fraud. Light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the samples. "Special histochemical stains" permit the microscopic examination of different cell types, structures, and/or microorganisms. Histological examination revealed variant tissue types, besides skeletal muscles. Nuchal ligaments, bones, hyaline cartilages, white fibrocartilages, large and medium arteries, cardiac muscles, tendons, and collagenous connective tissues comprised the capsule of a parenchymatous organ. Additionally, a crystal of food additives was recognized using light microscopy and SEM. SEM allows the visualization of bacterial contamination. Using different microscopic anatomy techniques is an efficient methodology for qualitative evaluations of various meat products. No difference in quality was observed between low- and high-priced meat products.
Keywords: fluorescent microscopy; foods fraud; histochemical stains; illegal tissues and cells; light microscopy; scanning electron microscopy.
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