This document specifies a real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method for the qualitative detection of goose-specific DNA derived from food and feed. It requires the extraction of an adequate amount of PCR amplifiable DNA from the relevant matrix and can be applied to the detection of goose material derived from domestic breeds of swan goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus) and domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus). Cross detection of Anser brachyrhynchus, Anser indicus, Branta canadensis, Cygnus atratus, Cygnus buccinator, Cygnus cygnus, Cygnus olor, Nettapus auritus, Oxyura jamaicensis and Stictonetta naevosa of Anseriformes is expected.

The method can be applied to distinguish domestic breeds of swan goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus) and domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus) from domestic chicken, duck and turkey which are the most common adulterants of foie gras.^[1] It is also able to differentiate the domestic goose from other high-end domestic poultry meats (quail, pigeon, pheasant).

The target sequence is a partial fragment of the Anser cygnoides isolate SCWG-2014 breed Sichuan white goose unplaced genomic scaffold, GooseV1.0 scaffold320 (i.e. GenBank accession number NW_025927981.1)^[2], which is present as a single copy per haploid genome. The provided PCR assay for this target has an absolute limit of detection of five copies per reaction, with ≥ 95 % confidence at this concentration (LOD_95 %).