AllergenScreener Solution

In the competitive food and beverage industry, product recalls are a significant concern, with undeclared allergens being the leading cause in the US. Each recall can cost an average of €1.3 million, not to mention the potential damage to your brand’s reputation.

Undeclared allergens can result from simple errors like mislabeling, mispackaging, or cross-contamination, and sometimes even economic fraud within the supply chain. To mitigate these risks, it’s crucial to implement precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) and thorough risk assessments.

AllergenScreener provides a comprehensive solution to this challenge. Our advanced technology allows for the analysis of regulated allergens in a single, multiplexed run, suitable for various food matrices or hygiene control swab samples.

By choosing AllergenScreener, you ensure the highest standards of consumer safety and robust protection for your business.

In food product labeling, accuracy is critical. Consumers rely on ingredient lists to be precise, while manufacturers must ensure their products are free from unexpected allergens. Existing food testing methods struggle to detect and identify unexpected allergens, cross-contamination during manufacturing. Patterns used for recognition vary by food processing. These factors highlight the need for advancements in speed, precision, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.

The introduction of multiplexed analysis with the AllergenScreener eliminates the need for separate tests for each allergen, allowing for the detection of multiple allergens in a single run. This multiplexing capability, combined with analytical software that can analyze data retrospectively, significantly reduces testing time.

• Multiplexed analysis eliminates need for separate tests for each allergen
• Pre-defined methods
• Multiplexing capability combined with analytical software
• Retrospective data analysis 
• Significant reduction of testing time

The FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Risk Assessment of Food Allergens conducted a review to determine appropriate allergen threshold levels. Published in 2022, the review recommended using Reference Doses (RfD) derived from the ED₀₅ model as a foundation for Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) decisions.

These reference doses can be applied globally by the food industry to evaluate the risk of accidental allergen presence, aiming to maximize product variety for consumers while minimizing the risk of severe allergic reactions. The ED₀₅-based RfD represent the amount of allergen that protects 95% of allergic consumers and elicit only mild to medium reactions in the remaining most sensitive 5% of allergic individuals.

Swabs are used in surface testing of equipment and machinery. They are integral part of HACCP concepts. This is important for preventing cross-contact between allergens and allergen-free foods, which is critical for protecting people with food allergies.

AllergenScreener analyze all allergens rather than focusing on just one during risk assessment to ensure comprehensive safety. All potential allergen risks are identified and checked, reducing the chance of missing less obvious allergens. In addition, cross-contact between different allergens can occur, so testing for all allergens helps prevent contamination from unexpected sources. 

Analysis of certified material from a proficiency test with swab sampling.

All results were assigned correctly: Almond present / Almond not present.

Detecting of allergens in processed food can be challenging. Processing methods such as heat treatment, fermentation, or enzymatic reactions can modify allergenic proteins, potentially affecting the recognition by antibodies. This may lead to underestimation or false negatives.

The complex nature of processed food matrices (e.g., emulsions, fats, or high-sugar content) can sometimes interfere with the ability to detect allergens accurately. Sample preparation techniques need to account for these complexities.

For the AllergenScreener Bruker has selected peptides that remain unaffected by the food’s state, whether raw or processed. The peptide markers are unique and should not be susceptible to cross reactions with other allergens.

To demonstrate this, Bruker conducted tests on certified material that are various samples containing differently processed allergens within a carrier matrix.