Quantitative methods for food allergens: a review

Area of Science:

• Food safety and analytical chemistry.
• Proteomics and allergen detection.

Background:

• Rising prevalence of food allergies necessitates accurate detection methods.
• Food allergenicity stems from native or processed allergenic proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review mass spectrometry-based methods for food allergen detection.
• To highlight advances in simultaneous quantification and identification of allergenic proteins.

Main Methods:

• Review of mass spectrometry techniques in proteomics.
• Classification of methods based on quantification and identification capabilities.
• Comparison with traditional methods like ELISA and PCR.

Main Results:

• Mass spectrometry offers advanced capabilities for detecting and quantifying allergenic proteins.
• These methods can identify and quantify traces of allergens in complex food matrices.
• Significant progress has been made in mass-spectrometric approaches for allergen analysis.

Conclusions:

• Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for quantitative allergen detection in the food chain.
• These advanced techniques complement established biological tests.
• Further development in mass spectrometry enhances food safety and allergy management.