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Extension of xMAP Food Allergen Detection Assay To Include Sesame
Chung Y Cho1, Katherine O Ivens1, William L Nowatzke2
1Office of Regulatory Science, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, Maryland 20740.
Journal of Food Protection
|December 20, 2019
Summary
A new method enhances the xMAP Food Allergen Detection Assay (FADA) to accurately detect sesame in various foods. This advancement is crucial for protecting individuals with sesame allergies through precise food labeling.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Allergen Detection
- Immunochemistry
Background:
- Sesame allergy affects 0.1-0.2% of North Americans, with potential for fatal anaphylaxis.
- Accurate detection and quantification of sesame in food are vital for labeling and protecting allergic individuals.
- Existing food allergen detection methods needed enhancement for sesame specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the xMAP Food Allergen Detection Assay (FADA) to include sesame as a validated analyte.
- To develop a reliable method for detecting and quantifying sesame in diverse food matrices.
- To ensure accurate ingredient labeling for consumer safety.
Main Methods:
- Modification of the xMAP FADA by conjugating three antibodies (one monoclonal, two polyclonal) to bead sets for enhanced sesame detection.
- Testing the assay's performance with sesame incurred or spiked in various food samples, including baked goods, spice mixes, and oils.
- Evaluating the assay's limit of quantification (LOQ) and dynamic range in the presence of potential food matrix inhibitors.
Main Results:
- The modified xMAP FADA successfully detected sesame in muffins, spice mix, canola oil, raw sesame oil, and toasted sesame oil with LOQ values ≤ 1.3 ppm.
- Despite inhibition by oils (canola, sesame, toasted sesame, olive) and oil-containing foods (hummus), the assay reliably detected sesame across its dynamic range (22-750 ng protein/mL).
- High signal-to-noise ratios and preliminary antibody concentration studies suggest potential for increased assay sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The enhanced xMAP FADA provides a validated and reliable method for detecting sesame in a wide array of food products.
- This assay advancement aids in safeguarding allergic populations by enabling more accurate food allergen labeling.
- The assay demonstrates robustness against common food matrix components and offers potential for further sensitivity improvements.
