The Nuts & Bolts of Allergen Detection Technology

Alright, now that we’ve cleared up some myths, it’s time to dig into the nuts and bolts of allergen detection. Because identifying allergens isn’t as simple as scanning for a peanut emoji. It’s a bit more serious—serious science, in fact!

Introduction to Allergen Detection

With the stakes so high for allergen management, technology is stepping in to bridge the gap. The goal? Quick, precise detection that catches allergens before they reach the plate. This second part will take us through the traditional methods we’re all familiar with (or maybe not!) and then jump into the new and improved tools that are turning the industry on its head.

The Old Guard: ELISA and PCR

Let’s start with the classics, the tried-and-true methods of allergen detection. These methods have been in the game for years. And while they’ve done a decent job, they’re starting to show their age.

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)

ELISA is a mouthful, but it’s been a staple in allergen detection for good reason. It zeroes in on proteins that could cause allergic reactions, giving results that are typically spot-on. The catch? ELISA takes time—sometimes hours or even days to get answers. That’s not ideal for today’s food industry, which often needs answers ASAP.

Key Players in ELISA Tech:

• Neogen Corporation: Known for their Veratox? ELISA kits, Neogen covers major allergens like peanut, milk, and gluten. Their kits are used by food companies worldwide for accurate, reliable results.
• Romer Labs: With their AgraQuant? line of ELISA kits, Romer Labs has helped streamline allergen detection on production lines. Their kits are all about precision, helping manufacturers control cross-contact risks and improve allergen monitoring.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

PCR is like ELISA’s cousin, focusing on DNA rather than proteins. It’s great for detecting allergens even in low quantities, but there’s a caveat: PCR doesn’t always catch allergens in highly processed foods where the DNA has been altered. It’s reliable but slow and not always the best for quick detection.

Key Players in PCR Tech:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Their SureTect PCR assays work for various allergens and are adaptable, making them useful in both allergen and pathogen detection.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Their iQ-Check PCR kits are renowned for high sensitivity, helping companies detect allergens even in complex foods. This level of accuracy makes it popular for products where thorough testing is a must.

Game Changers: New Technologies on the Allergen Detection Scene

Now let’s get to the exciting part—the new kids on the block that are changing the game in allergen detection.

Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs)

Ever tried a COVID-19 test at home? LFDs work similarly but are used to detect allergens. They’re quick, giving simple yes-or-no results in minutes, which makes them ideal for fast-paced food production environments.

Key Players in LFD Tech:

• 3M: With their Clean-Trace LFDs, 3M has streamlined allergen testing, making it fast and easy for food manufacturers to monitor allergens on production surfaces.
• Neogen’s Reveal 3-D: These LFD strips provide instant detection for common allergens like peanuts, soy, and dairy. They’re perfect for on-the-go testing and give food processors peace of mind against cross-contamination.

Mass Spectrometry

Welcome to the future. Mass spectrometry identifies allergens based on their molecular “fingerprints.” It’s lightning-fast and highly accurate, but traditionally has been too costly for widespread use. Luckily, companies are working to make this tech more accessible.

Key Players in Mass Spectrometry Tech:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: This company provides high-resolution MS options, like the Q Exactive Orbitrap, for sensitive allergen quantification. It’s useful for confirming the presence of allergenic proteins in complex matrices, allowing for specific allergen identification in processed foods and beverages.
• SCIEX: SCIEX offers MS solutions that enable multi-allergen detection with high accuracy, suitable for challenging matrices such as dairy and bakery products. This approach enhances allergen profiling and helps identify even trace allergens.

Biosensors and Smart Labels

Imagine having a tiny gadget in your pocket that could instantly detect allergens in your food—kind of like a food safety detective. These smart devices use biological elements, like enzymes, to detect allergens in real-time. They’re fast, efficient, and don’t need a full lab setup to work. Plus, they’re portable! This is a huge win for food producers looking to check products right on the production line.

Researchers are harnessing the power of tiny superheroes called nanobodies, which come from camelids (think camels and llamas). These nanobodies are like supercharged antibodies—they're smaller, more stable, and laser-focused on detecting specific allergens like macadamia nuts, peanuts, lupin, and milk proteins. What’s cool is they can spot tricky protein structures that regular antibodies might miss. This means they offer super precise detection in complex foods, making them more reliable and cost-effective.

But that’s not all! Another exciting development is the magnetic nanomaterial-based voltammetric immunosensor. This nifty device can sniff out tiny traces of celery allergen (Api g 1) in concentrations as low as just 32 picograms per milliliter! Perfect for on-the-spot testing, it allows for real-time allergen monitoring, ensuring safety with exceptional sensitivity. These innovations are making food safer for everyone—how awesome is that?

Key Players in Biosensor Tech:

• SensoGenic Ltd.: Based in Israel, SensoGenic is developing a portable, handheld digital diagnostic analyzer for consumers to detect food allergens. Their innovative biosensor technology aims to provide rapid and accurate detection of allergens in food products
• Food Labels Solutions: This company leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance allergen management in food production. Their smart labels can analyze, predict, label, track, and detect allergens, ensuring food safety and compliance with regulations.

Pocket-Sized Detectives: Smartphone Apps and Portable Devices

For consumers and producers alike, portable allergen detection tools are a game changer. Companies like Nima Labs and ImmunoTools are developing apps and portable detectors that allow real-time allergen detection on the go.

Key Players in Portable Detection:

• Nima Labs: Nima’s device detects gluten and peanuts, giving results in minutes that can be tracked through a smartphone app, helping consumers avoid allergens while eating out.
• ImmunoTools: This German startup’s app-based detector leverages antibodies for allergen detection in food samples, providing a user-friendly, on-the-spot testing option.
• Allergy Amulet: Allergy Amulet is another standout in the biosensor field, offering a portable device designed for everyday use by consumers with severe food allergies. This pocket-sized tool uses immunoassay technology to test for specific allergens in just seconds, giving users peace of mind about what they’re eating. With its simplicity and speed, Allergy Amulet empowers consumers to check for allergens anywhere, from restaurants to packaged foods, adding a layer of safety that’s both user-friendly and highly effective.
• SensoGenic: This company has developed a compact, cost-effective biosensor for major allergens, including peanuts, gluten, and milk. SensoGenic’s technology is designed for consumers and food manufacturers alike, providing a quick and easy test for allergen presence in various food matrices. The device’s portability and low price point aim to make allergen testing accessible to a wider market, particularly in small-scale food production and catering industries.

The Power of Prediction: AI and Machine Learning in Allergen Detection

Yep, artificial intelligence is flexing its muscles in food safety too. AI systems can sift through massive amounts of data from food samples, spotting allergens with incredible accuracy. Think of them as super-sleuths who never miss a clue. These systems can analyze food components quickly and even learn from mistakes to get better over time. The best part? They can work 24/7 without a coffee break!

AI tools are being developed to scan ingredient lists for allergenic components that might otherwise slip under the radar. For example, some ingredients may have multiple names (think “casein” for milk or “albumin” for egg), and AI-powered systems can recognize these aliases, flagging products that need allergen labeling.

Key Players in AI and Machine Learning:

• LiberEat: Scottish tech startup advancing an AI platform that detects allergens that may go unnoticed in traditional manual checks. Their technology targets errors in ingredient listings that could result in allergen exposure, especially valuable for businesses aiming to mitigate the financial and reputational risks of food recalls.
• AllerGenis: A company focused on allergy diagnostics, has achieved a notable 93% accuracy rate in detecting peanut allergies through its advanced testing approach. This achievement is driven by Allergenis' proprietary Bead-Based Epitope Assay (BBEA), an innovative test designed to provide not only high accuracy but also a nuanced understanding of an individual’s allergic response and threshold to allergens, especially peanuts.

Multiplexing Technology: Multi-Target Detection in One Go

Multiplexing technology has emerged as a cutting-edge solution in allergen detection, allowing for the simultaneous testing of multiple allergens within a single sample. Unlike traditional methods, which often detect one allergen at a time, multiplexing enables rapid, comprehensive analysis by testing for several potential allergens in parallel. This capability is invaluable in food manufacturing, where cross-contamination risks can involve multiple allergenic ingredients.

Multiplexing works by combining various detection assays—often using DNA microarrays, immunoassays, or advanced biosensor platforms—to screen for multiple allergenic proteins at once.?

SCIEX offers a suite of advanced liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) solutions to detect multiple food allergens, addressing the need for sensitivity and specificity across various allergenic proteins.

Key instruments include the QTRAP 4500 and TripleTOF 6600 systems, which detect multiple allergenic peptides simultaneously with a high degree of specificity. These instruments are used to screen for allergens such as egg, milk, peanut, soy, and various tree nuts, including almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts, across food matrices like baked goods and raw products.

Researchers have created a special test that uses fluorescent multiplexed lateral flow immunoassay to check for multiple allergens at once. This test can find proteins from crustaceans, like shrimp (called tropomyosin), a protein related to calcium, and a common egg protein (ovalbumin) in different food types and products. This means it can quickly tell if these allergens are present in a variety of foods, making it easier to ensure they're safe for people with allergies.

What’s Next? The Future of Allergen Detection Technology

So, what does the future hold? In a word: personalization. The next frontier in allergen detection is all about tailoring solutions to individual needs, making dining safer and simpler for everyone.

Imagine a smartphone app that scans your food and tells you, in real-time, if it contains any allergens. Some startups are already exploring this concept, using tech that communicates with biosensors and AI systems to analyze food components right on the spot. It’s like having a food safety lab in your pocket, and it’s incredibly promising for those with severe allergies.

Then there’s customized food production. Thanks to advanced tech, manufacturers are finding ways to create “allergy-free” versions of popular foods. From gluten-free bread to nut-free chocolate, we’re seeing more brands jump on the allergen-free bandwagon. And with tech making detection even more foolproof, the likelihood of cross-contamination continues to shrink.

Finally, there’s talk of genetic screening for food allergies. Scientists are exploring ways to predict allergies from a young age, which could help parents better manage their kids’ diets from day one. It’s still early days for this approach, but imagine knowing exactly what to avoid before an allergy even presents itself!

In short, the future is bright. With the advancements we’re seeing, we’re inching closer to a world where food allergies are a lot less scary. And that’s something to look forward to.

Here’s to the innovators who are tirelessly working to ensure that every bite is safe, delicious, and free of any unpleasant surprises. And here’s to a world where food is just food—no worries, no risks, just good eating.

In case you missed out on our first article in this series, check it out here; https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/food-allergens-small-ingredient-big-problem-catherine-odhiambo-ikmvf/