With recent reports of mislabeling products relating to Egyptian cotton, Applied DNA Sciences (APDN), a provider of DNA-based supply chain, anti-counterfeiting, authentication, genotyping and anti-theft technologies, today provides market data that shows their DNA-based system can be used to monitor, control or eliminate the off-shore substitution of high-value cotton fibers by fibers of unknown origin.

APDN has a solution that uses forensic science to tag, type and test textile products. Trademarked as SigNature® T for textiles, the core technology has a unique molecular tag that tags cotton fibers en masse in the gin that are subsequently checked at every step of the supply chain as it is made into yarn, fabric and finished goods. In addition to SigNature T, all cotton is fiberTyped®, which quantifies the native DNA within cotton fibers by species prior to ginning to ensure the original cotton species is present.

Once SigNature T DNA tagging was implemented, including the strict storage and labeling protocols, along with inspections and frequent DNA testing, the level of DNA compliance rose quickly to 100 per cent. Data were obtained by APDN from commercial samples.

With Welspun of mislabeling products as 100 per cent Egyptian cotton. Subsequently, a number of cotton retailers have launched formal audits of their products obtained from the Indian company. Earlier, APDN had warned that brands and consumers seriously question Egyptian textile claims.