Improved multi-food allergen analysis of processed foods using HRAM-LC-MS/MS with an ELISA-validated extraction...

Area of Science:

• Food science
• Analytical chemistry
• Mass spectrometry

Background:

• Food allergens in processed foods are challenging to detect due to heating, processing, and complex food matrices.
• Reliable allergen detection requires effective extraction into test solutions for methods like ELISA and LC-MS.
• Standardized measurement values across different analytical methods are essential for food manufacturing allergen management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the critical role of pretreatment steps in LC-MS analysis of food allergens in processed foods.
• To develop and validate a high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAM)-LC-MS/MS method for multi-allergen detection.
• To ensure comparability of results between established ELISA methods and novel LC-MS techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized food extracts optimized for ELISA for subsequent HRAM-LC-MS/MS analysis.
• Employed an MS sample preparation kit for sample processing.
• Performed multi-allergen analysis on processed foods spiked with allergens at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 ppm.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation was observed between measured values obtained from HRAM-LC-MS/MS and ELISA.
• The developed HRAM-LC-MS/MS method proved effective for analyzing multiple food allergens simultaneously.
• The study confirmed the applicability of LC-MS for reliable food allergen quantification in processed food matrices.

Conclusions:

• Standardized food extracts and pretreatment protocols enable consistent allergen quantification across ELISA and HRAM-LC-MS/MS.
• HRAM-LC-MS/MS offers a viable and accurate alternative for multi-allergen detection in processed foods.
• This research supports the integration of advanced LC-MS techniques for robust food allergen management systems.