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Allergen testing: New reference materials aim to improve comparability of test results

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Aug 28, 2026 -

Allergen testing: New reference materials aim to improve comparability of test results

Allergen testing: New reference materials aim to improve comparability of test results

 

A recent publication by the Baden-Württemberg testing authorities presents a new approach to preparing reference materials for allergen analysis. The results underscore how important suitable reference materials, validated methods and consideration of the respective food matrix are for reliable test results.

New publication on allergen analysis

The Chemical and Veterinary Testing Office (CVUA) Freiburg, together with members of the Section 64 working group "Food Allergens", has published the results of a ring trial for sensitive and semi-quantitative screening of the allergens celery, mustard and pistachio.

The focus of the study, alongside the validation of a multiplex real-time PCR, was a new, flexible approach to preparing reference materials for allergen analysis.

The background is the still insufficient availability of suitable standard and comparison materials for this analytically demanding field. Such materials are, however, of great importance for verifying test methods, assessing their performance and making results from different laboratories more comparable.

The PCR method tested in the ring trial has meanwhile been adopted as a national standard in the Official Collection of Test Methods under Section 64 LFGB.

 
Different food matrices as a challenge

A particular challenge in allergen analysis lies in the diversity of the foods to be tested.

For the current study, reference materials were prepared in five different food matrices:

Subsequently, the multiplex real-time PCR for the detection of celery, white mustard, brown/black mustard and pistachio was examined in a ring trial involving a total of eleven laboratories.

The results show that the respective food matrix can influence analytical performance. While good results were achieved for several matrices, limitations in recovery and measurement uncertainty were observed particularly for ice cream and falafel.

This publication therefore makes clear: in allergen analysis it is not only important which allergen is to be tested. The composition and processing of the respective food as well as the analytical method used must also be taken into account.

 
Why reliable allergen analysis is important for manufacturers

Food allergies and intolerances can be relevant to affected consumers even at low amounts of certain food components.

The Food Information Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 therefore prescribes special labeling requirements for 14 substances or groups of substances that can cause allergies or intolerances. These include, among others, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, lupin and molluscs as well as sulfur dioxide and sulfites above the specified concentration.

In addition to intentionally used ingredients, allergens can also enter a product unintentionally – for example through cross-contamination during raw material storage, production, cleaning or filling.

Effective allergen management is therefore an important part of operational quality assurance. Analytical testing can, among other things, help to

 

PCR or ELISA? The question decides


Different analytical methods are available for detecting allergens.

The ELISA method detects proteins or specific protein components. The method allows very sensitive and quantitative detection for many allergens.

The PCR, on the other hand, targets the genetic level and detects characteristic DNA sequences of the respective allergenic food components. It can offer advantages in terms of specificity, particularly for certain matrices and questions.

Which testing method is best suited depends, among other things, on the allergen being sought, the food matrix, the degree of processing of the product and the specific question.

This is precisely where the practical significance of the current publication becomes apparent: reference materials and ring trials help to verify the performance of analytical methods under different conditions and make test results more comparable.

 

Allergen testing at BAV Institute

For the quality assurance of food companies, we offer extensive testing options for allergens in our Tentamus laboratories.

Depending on the allergen, product and question, real-time PCR, ELISA or enzymatic methods are used. The testing range covers all 14 categories of allergens that are subject to mandatory labeling in the EU.

In addition to testing foods, raw materials and environmental samples can also be part of analytically supported allergen management, depending on the question.

The combination of different analytical methods makes it possible to tailor the testing specifically to the respective product and question.

Would you like to have your foods or raw materials tested for allergens?

Our customer advisory team will be happy to assist you in selecting suitable testing methods and with questions about allergen analysis, quality assurance and product safety.

 

Sources and further information