Reading Scientific Services has developed a new hazelnut testing method, expanding its assays for potential allergen contamination, based on Elisa technology
Reading Scientific Services has added a test for hazelnuts to its portfolio of assays for potential allergens.
Although hazelnuts present less of a problem than allergens such as peanuts in terms of the number of sensitive individuals, they are nonetheless a very serious problem for a small proportion of the population. The major risk comes from cross contamination in factories where products containing hazelnut and noissette are processed alongside those that do not.
In this situation, the latter group of products could become contaminated with nut oils and proteins at trace levels.
Hazelnut can still cause anaphylatic shock in sensitive consumers at very low levels.
The test method used by RSSL is based on an Elisa technology, using immuno-affinity techniques to specifically detect hazelnut proteins.
The test is sensitive down to 1mg/kg and is applicable to the investigation of customer complaints, as well as in routine verification that cleaning procedures are being thoroughly carried out, and that cross contamination is not occurring.
