Allergy rapid test for food

Allergy rapid test for food in planning

(05.09.2010) As part of a research project, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is working on the development of rapid tests for the detection of allergy-causing substances, so-called allergens, in food.

Especially for peanut allergy sufferers and people who react to fish and shellfish, even traces of allergens can be life-threatening. Therefore, even small amounts of peanuts, fish and shellfish in packaged food must be labeled if they belong to the recipe. This also applies to all other ingredients that can trigger allergies. However, if due to operational reasons traces of the allergens inadvertently get into a food, so far it has been up to the food industry to label their products accordingly for allergy sufferers. A legal regulation does not exist here. As a precaution, the food industry labels its products with references such as „May contain traces of peanuts "or „Fish is processed in our farm, "although it is not certain that the allergens are included in the product, which can be a major limitation for those with allergies.

The research project aims to find analysis methods for the official food control and the food industry by 2012, with which it is possible to detect the slightest traces of allergens in food within minutes. The aim is to develop a method in which extracts of the food to be examined is applied to a test strip. Within ten minutes this should indicate the result, if an allergen is contained and if so which. A laboratory should not be needed for the rapid test. (Pm)