Preparation of hypoallergenic ovalbumin by high-temperature water treatment

The high-temperature water treatment is one of the methods used to reduce the molecular weight of proteins. In this study, in order to establish a practical method for preparing hypoallergenic materials using the high-temperature water treatment, we investigated the effects of processing temperature on the antigenicity and allergenicity of a food allergen. Additionally, the foaming ability of the samples was also evaluated as a function desired in the food industry. We used ovalbumin as a model allergen. As a result, although there was no significant difference among the samples treated with different processing temperatures, all the antigens treated with high-temperature water showed a decrease in antigenicity and allergenicity. In addition, when ovalbumin was treated at a temperature of 130 °C or higher, there was a significant improvement in foaming properties. These findings indicate that high-temperature water treatment is a potential strategy for preparing practical hypoallergenic materials.