Development of a Real-Time PCR and a Sandwich ELISA for Detection of Potentially Allergenic Trace Amounts of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in Processed Foods

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2004-06, Vol.52 (12), p.3754-3760
• Main Authors: Stephan, Oliver, Vieths, Stefan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allergens; Allergens - analysis; Arachis - genetics; Arachis hypogaea; Biological and medical sciences; Cacao - chemistry; DNA, Plant - analysis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Food Analysis; food contamination; Food Handling; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Methods of analysis, processing and quality control, regulation, standards; Peanut Hypersensitivity; peanut protein; peanut protein allergens; peanuts; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; processed foods; sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf035178u

Hidden allergens in food products are, especially for peanut-allergic consumers, a serious problem because even low amounts (∼200 μg) of peanut can elicit allergic reactions. Undeclared peanut traces can be found in processed food products, because contaminations with peanut during production processes are frequent. To minimize the risk of such cross-contaminations, it is necessary to develop sensitive analytical methods for the detection of hidden allergens in foods. For this approach we developed two peanut-specific assays based on the detection of peanut protein by specific antibodies (sandwich ELISA) and by the detection of peanut-specific DNA (part of the coding region of Ara h 2) by a real-time PCR. Both tests did not show any cross-reactivity with 22 common food ingredients (cereals, nuts, legumes), and the limit of detection is