Biotrace offers products to check safety and quality of food production including rapid pathogen, toxin and allergen kits, environmental and carcass sampling, dilution and enrichment, and ATP testing
On 25 November, 2005, EC Directive 89/2003 came into effect.
This regulation requires that all pre-packed foods sold in the European Union must show clearly on the label if they contain any of the 12 listed allergenic foods as an ingredient.
Biotrace International launched the first two products in its range of Tecra Allergen kits earlier in 2005, with several more expected to be rolled out throughout 2006.
These tests will help food manufacturers comply with the new directive.
Tecra allergen visual immunoassays (Via) are intended for the detection and measurement of specific allergens in food and food-related samples.
The tests have been calibrated against Nist standard reference material (National Institute of Standards and Technologies, USA); and can be used to test product as well as environmental swabs for allergenic residues.
The Tecra Egg Via, detects egg white and egg yolk proteins.
Many egg kits on the market only detect egg white, even though egg yolk has also been shown to cause an allergic response in egg-sensitive individuals.
The Tecra Peanut Via detects both raw and cooked peanut.
The kits allow the user to choose a protocol that suits their requirements.
A simple presence/absence visual result is achievable.
Alternatively, the amount of allergen present in the sample can be measured with an easy-to-use Tecra Allergen Calculator.
It is generally recognised that excessive use of allergen precautionary statements, such as 'may contain', unnecessarily restricts consumers' choices and devalues the impact of the warnings.
Because of this, many food processors have now restricted their use and in their place, implemented allergen testing regimes to ensure their ingredients, finished product and equipment are free of allergens.
Biotrace International offers a complete line of the products needed to check the safety and quality of food production processes; including rapid pathogen, toxin and allergen kits, products for environmental and carcass sampling, dilution and enrichment and ATP testing that gives a real-time assessment of plant sanitation.
