Top 5 Common Food Allergens and How Allergen Detection Kits Help Identify Them

For billions of people around the world, food is a source of great enjoyment, culture and nutrition. For millions of people, however, food is not just about eating but also about avoiding severe and potentially life-threatening reactions. One single ingredient in the wrong place at the wrong time can cause immense suffering and in some cases be even fatal. So testing and accurate allergen detection are becoming crucial elements of food safety.

Food allergies arise when the immune system reacts abnormally to specific proteins. The body reacts to the realisation of the presence of these proteins by displaying various types of symptoms, ranging from trivial to dangerous, such as in anaphylaxis. Unlike microbial contamination, allergens are not eliminated during processing and sanitary steps to the food product, which is why the detection of allergens is a fundamental step for quality control within a food processing plant. This is the reason why more and more food manufacturing companies have turned to using various food allergen detection kits.

There is a huge risk of cross-contamination within a complex food processing environment. Products made from different ingredients may be processed on the same production line using the same equipment. This means that allergens from different ingredients may be present on different surfaces. A small mistake can lead to cross-contamination of products with the wrong or unwanted allergens. The use of multi-allergen detection kits in such situations is highly recommended to avoid non-compliance with food safety regulations and to protect the consumer.

Top 5 Common Food Allergens

1. Milk

Milk is one of the more common allergens affecting children and even adults. Allergens in milk are known as casein and whey proteins. A common reason why manufacturers test food products for milk presence is to ensure that there is no trace of milk found in what is labelled as “dairy-free” products. Allergen detection kits have proven to be the most effective for testing processed foods for the presence of milk.

2. Eggs

Egg proteins are often used in the production of baked products and processed foods. Even a trace amount can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Using an allergen testing kit, manufacturers are able to detect the presence of egg proteins in food products and ensure that the products undergo sufficient cleaning and processing to eliminate any remaining residues.

3. Peanuts

Peanut is one of the most severe food allergies with the potential for causing anaphylaxis. With the widespread use of peanuts and the severe consequences of unintended contamination, monitoring of peanut contamination is required. The use of our advanced allergen detection kits is valuable in this regard, as they can identify minute levels of peanuts in food products.

4. Wheat

Wheat allergies and gluten sensitivity are becoming more prevalent in people. Food manufacturers use wheat as the main ingredient in numerous products, meaning there is a high risk of cross-contamination in the production line. This is exactly why allergen detection kits are important in verifying that products are genuinely gluten-free.

5. Soy

Soy is a commonly used ingredient in a wide range of processed foods, sauces and food additives, and so can often be hidden. It is very important to be able to test for soy to prevent accidental ingestion. A high-quality allergen detection kit will be able to detect soy proteins, which will then enable the individual to steer clear of it.

Understanding How Allergen Detection Kits Work

According to David Wills, senior scientist with Intertek Laboratories Inc. in North America, allergen risk assessments in various technologies have been integrated into modern allergen test kits to support effective allergen risk management. Two of the most common methods include ELISA and PCR," he comments.

ELISA (Protein-Based Testing)

ELISA is an immunological laboratory technique for detecting and quantifying diluted analytes such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones. The ELISA method is used commonly in commercial allergy detection kits. The principle behind the ELISA test is based on antibodies being directed toward particular allergens and resulting in clear evidence of the specific allergen's presence. The ELISA method acts as a lock and key mechanism; antibodies lock onto specific proteins and in return result in some form of visual indication of the allergen’s presence.

ELISA-based allergen testing kits provide a fast and easy method for detecting allergens. They are frequently used for on-site applications such as cleaning validation of equipment or raw material verification. However, the ELISA method is protein structure dependent. Therefore, some processed foods may not be detected by ELISA due to the structural changes that occur as a result of food processing.

PCR (DNA-Based Testing)

In a Food Allergen Detection Kit using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, it identifies the DNA of common food allergens such as tree nuts, fish, eggs, milk, peanuts, crustaceans, and wheat. Unlike the ELISA method, which is efficient in raw or lightly processed foods, PCR is accurate enough to detect allergens in even highly processed foods, where proteins usually degrade.

PCR-based allergen detection kits amplify and measure the presence of specific DNA sequences from known allergens such as peanuts and soy. They are highly accurate but can sometimes record the presence of harmless trace amounts of proteins rather than actual allergens.

Why Allergen Detection Kits Are Essential

In today’s food production industry, a single detection method is no longer sufficient. Manufacturers frequently combine the ELISA technology with PCR-based allergen detection kits to provide full safety.

ELISA provides quick, on-site results

PCR offers deeper, highly sensitive analysis

Together, these allergen detection kits minimize risk and improve accuracy

With increasing international regulation and global consumer awareness, it is becoming more important to utilise allergen detection kits. Not only do they prevent product recalls and protect your company’s reputation, but they also help to safeguard the health and safety of the end consumer.

Choosing the Right Allergen Detection Kits

The choice of testing method will depend on the type of food, degree of processing and the level of sensitivity required. Allergen detection kits should provide accurate, rapid and user-friendly results to ensure they fit into the food safety testing process.

With Seqlo, you get so much more. Our advanced allergen detection test kits are designed for today’s food testing needs and enable you to test for a wide variety of relevant food allergens with ease, accuracy and reliability. They utilise the latest qPCR technology to guarantee the fastest accuracy, whatever the sample type or composition.

The implementation of allergen detection kits by manufacturers will lead to higher levels of compliance, a reduction in risk, and therefore, greater consumer trust. Follow us on Instagram for real time updates on food testing innovations.

Join us on Facebook for industry insights and product updates.