PCR detection kit

Identification of allergens in food

Detection of allergenic components using real-time PCR

Allergens

Allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g. raw materials, processed products) have been on the rise in recent years. It is estimated that between 6 – 8 % of children and 2 – 4 % of adults are affected. Food allergies are a misdirected overreaction of the immune system to the smallest traces of individual allergens. The majority of allergies (90%) can be limited to a few triggering substances. Allergen labelling for food has been mandatory since November 25, 2005. Since then, certain ingredients that most frequently trigger food allergies in Europe must be labelled on packaged foods. Labelling must also be carried out if the allergenic ingredients only enter the food indirectly via other ingredients. The current legal labelling obligation is set out in the Food Regulation 1169/2011 regulated.

List of allergens subject to mandatory labelling in the EU:

• Cereals containing gluten, namely wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats or their hybrid strains
• Crustaceans such as crabs, shrimps, prawns, lobsters etc.
• Egg
• Fish
• Peanut
• Soy
• Milk (including lactose)
• Nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, Queensland nuts)
• Celery
• Mustard
• Sesame
• Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (from 10 mg per kg or l)
• Sweet lupine
• Molluscs (e.g. snails, mussels, squid etc.)

GEN-IAL® First Allergen PCR-Kits:

The First Allergen PCR-Kits developed and validated by GEN-IAL®enable the qualitative detection of allergenic components in food. Detection is carried out by means of fluorescence measurement using the hydrolysis probe format (TaqMan^®). Using hot-start PCR plus double-labelled sequence-specific probes (FAM/DQ), a measurable fluorescence signal of a defined wavelength is emitted during the extension phase if hybridization to the target sequence is correct. An inhibition control (HEX/DQ) is amplified together with the specific sequence in a reaction tube to exclude false negative results due to inhibition. The allergen-specific probe is measured in the FAM channel, the signal of the inhibition control (IC) is detected in the HEX channel.

The GEN-IAL® First Allergen PCR-Kits are continuously tested in ring trials and proficiency tests.