Hidden allergen labelling and food metrology: a possibility to solve the problem.

Food allergy is an increasing pathology. Since 2003 European Community is trying to protects food allergy suffers by comprehensive ingredient listing information to allow the easily identification of the ingredients they need to avoid. Validated analytical methods for hidden allergen investigation in different food matrices are needed. Mass Spectrometry-based methods are now approaching the field of current routine food allergen quantification methods mainly based on immunochemistry (ELISA). ELISA technique could be affected by cross-reactivity and/or by unpredictable effects caused by food processing. On the contrary, MS methods offer the possibility to confirm the molecular identity of the allergen and obtain a validated quantification. One step further for MS techniques is the possibility to achieve metrological traceability of the allergen throughout the absolute quantification. Up to now these concepts are very poorly taken in account but it is clear that, for example, the requirement for certified reference materials developed for hidden allergen detection is now a of paramount importance. Certified reference materials could improve the development of a validated method. Actually, several papers have been published so far proposing MS-based method for the detection of allergen in food, but very few of them showed a validated approach. It is clear that a metrological approach in the field of food allergen quantification could facilitate the harmonization and standardization of the current analytical techniques.