Applied DNA Closes the Loop on Traceability for Egyptian Pima with Genotyping Assays for Cotton Authentication

STONY BROOK, N.Y., May 30, 2019. Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (“Applied DNA,” “the Company,” NASDAQ: APDN), today announced that it has closed the loop on traceability for Egyptian Pima using DNA-based genotyping assays for cotton authentication. These assays have been used to verify fiber and will be extended to yarn, fabric and finished goods in an ongoing validation program. The Egyptian Pima developments join and expand a series of US Pima cotton assays performed within Applied DNA testing services and are based on work conducted over the past 3 years related to the validation of a known library of cotton cultivar standards.

“This solution closes the loop for the cotton industry that has been under a cloud of controversy surrounding evidence of cotton products labeled as Egyptian cotton versus those which are actually grown in Egypt. There is no substitute for DNA analysis when it comes to cotton traceability and transparency because of its ability to do what other technologies cannot do, which is to forensically authenticate the fiber through to yarn and finished goods,” stated Dr. Michael Hogan, vice president, Life Sciences, Applied DNA. When paired with SigNature^® T  DNA tagging, testing and tracking of cotton at the gin, it is expected that these new cotton assays, along with other methods of fiber quantitation in the development pipeline at Applied DNA, can now broaden our multiple-parameter analysis to verify the type of cotton, the cotton’s origin, and the blending of the cotton fiber (both valid and surreptitious) during the journey from the ginned fiber to a finished textile product.

In August 2016, the controversy of home bedding and other products labeled 100% Egyptian Cotton hit an all-time high when a number of US retailers recalled many products from retail shelves due to label claim violations, and consumers were informed that products did not meet the standard or label requirement. Three years later, Applied DNA will begin to validate and market test products that are labeled to contain 100% Egyptian Pima in addition to these services for US Pima. Recently, a federal judge ruled that several “Big Box” stores must face lawsuits claiming they sold linens falsely labeled “Egyptian Cotton.” Applied DNA believes its new Egyptian genotyping assays could assist in protecting against such an imbroglio if the retailers used this technology in their supply chains to verify their goods.

“Our cotton authentication platform of SigNature T and genotyping can provide a means for quality control and compliance in supply chains. Many products use cotton grown in the US and Egypt, and we believe that our system can provide a useful tool to enable brands and manufacturers to verify their products at any stage of the supply chain, that is more exact than other methods claiming to do the same without the same degree of precision,” stated Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA.

“The Himatsingka Group remains committed to bringing cotton traceability for all major varietals of cotton including Egyptian cotton, while maintaining the highest standards of traceability solutions and quality control mechanisms. We applaud Applied DNA for advancing the solutions for the cotton industry as we believe that DNA science is the new standard for purity and authenticity,” stated Shrikant Himatsingka, CEO of The Himatsingka Group.