Recent Development on the determination of allergens in food

Risk assessment of unintended food allergens, contaminants in the food production chain, relies on the availability of analytical methods capable of providing accurate measurements. DNA- and immune-based assays are first action methods providing within a short time frame information about the measurand, expressed as milligrams of total protein of the allergenic ingredient per kilogram of food product. On the other hand, isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) serves as a confirmatory method by providing peptide absolute quantification with a small measurement uncertainty, achieved by removing instrumental fluctuations. This analytical approach is a step forward to metrological traceable methods for food allergen analysis. All the detection methods can measure DNA, single peptides, or proteins, while the allergenic consumer protection and the action levels to support the quantitative risk assessments are based on the total mass of the allergenic food proteins. This article provides an overview of the analytical methods to be used in the frame of food allergen detection with a focus on methodological advancement.