Food allergens
Reliable analytical solutions for your allergen management

Food allergen testing

The importance of food allergen management

For most people, consuming food is harmless, but for those with food allergies, it can cause life-threatening reactions and significantly impact their quality of life. Effective food allergen management using reliable testing methods is therefore critical.

Prevalence of food allergies and intolerances

Scientists estimate that approximately 2-4% of adults and 6-8% of children suffer from food allergies. Additionally, a significant number of people have food intolerances, although their exact prevalence is difficult to determine due to a lack of comprehensive studies. Unlike food intolerances, food allergies are highly dangerous because they are caused by immune system reactions triggered by proteins to which individuals are sensitized.

The need for accurate allergen labeling

Labeling allergenic proteins, known as allergens, is crucial for protecting allergic individuals. Hidden allergens, which can appear in convenience foods or as unintended contaminants during storage and production, pose significant risks.

Allergen regulation

To safeguard allergic individuals, the EU implemented food labeling regulations, which are continuously updated (EU Regulation 1169/2011, effective December 2014). Since November 2005, food producers are required to label ingredients that can cause allergies or intolerances. This includes a comprehensive list of substances and products derived from them.

Celery Egg Fish Gluten Lupin Milk Mustard Peanut Sesame Shellfish Soy Tree nuts

Furthermore, sulfur dioxide and sulfites in concentrations over 10 milligrams per kilogram must be labeled. Other countries have similar regulations tailored to country-specific allergens, such as Histamine.

An interactive map of international allergen regulations is available from the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (FARRP).

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Allergen risk management

In most production lines, multiple products are produced, leading to potential unintended allergen contamination. This can occur through cross-contact of raw materials, inadequate storage, shared production equipment, airborne dust, improper reuse of leftovers, or faulty packaging. To protect consumers and ensure accurate labeling, an HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) concept, including reliable on-site allergen analysis, must be implemented. Effective measures such as strategic production schedules and rigorous cleaning practices can minimize cross-contact with allergens.

Infographics

Allergen management

To support the food industry in their allergen risk assessment, we have designed a guide. This infographic shows at which points and areas in the complete food process (from the receipt of raw materials through production to labeling and packaging) allergen risks are present and which methods are best suited for the corresponding allergen analysis.

Test kits for allergen analysis

R-Biopharm offers a range of immunochemical (ELISA, lateral flow tests) and molecular biological (PCR) techniques for allergen analysis. Our extensive portfolio includes test kits for almond, casein, crustacean, egg, gluten/gliadin, hazelnut, β-lactoglobulin, lupine, milk, mustard, peanut, sesame, and soy. Conducting allergen analysis requires an allergen-free laboratory to ensure accurate results.

The bioavid lateral flow tests are now available in a new format, which includes a hook line and everything needed for cleaning control. Find out more about our bioavid lateral flow tests.

Explore our video section to get hands-on information on allergen analysis and the test procedure of our kits.

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Product portfolio

ELISA microtiter plates

Efficient immunoassays for food analysis

Product	Description	No. of tests/amount	Art. No.
RIDASCREEN®EASY Crustacean	RIDASCREEN®EASY Crustacean (Art. No. RAE3001) is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of contaminations by crustacean protein in foods. Hygiene samples can be investigated according to an application note, too. Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	RAE3001
RIDASCREEN® Walnut	RIDASCREEN® Walnut (Art. No. R6601) is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of raw and roasted walnut or walnut protein in food. Due to the large number of different food products, the following samples were examined as … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6601
RIDASCREEN®EASY Mustard	RIDASCREEN®EASY Mustard is an enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of mustard. Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	RAE8201
RIDASCREEN®EASY Gluten	Fast and easy ELISA test method for gluten detection! Ensures a safe, fast and easy quantitative analysis of gluten residues from wheat, rye and barley in food in line with the Codex Alimentarius Type 1 Method (see RIDASCREEN® Gliadin, Art. No. … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	RAE7071
RIDASCREEN® Total Gluten	Specialty ELISA test method for gluten detection in oats! Ensures safe quantitative analysis of gluten residues from gluten-containing cereals (wheat, rye and barley) in oat and oat products. RIDASCREEN® Total Gluten is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7041
RIDASCREEN® Peanut	RIDASCREEN® Peanut is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay developed for the quantitative analysis of peanut or peanut proteins in food. Due to the large number of different food products, the following samples were examined representatively for different … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6811
RIDASCREEN® Egg	RIDASCREEN® Egg is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay developed for the quantitative analysis of native and processed hen´s egg in foods. The following foods were examined as representatives of the group of products including baked goods, sweets, … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6411
RIDASCREEN®FAST Gliadin sensitive	Fast and sensitive ELISA test method for gluten detection Ensures a safe, fast and sensitive quantitative analysis of gluten residues from gluten containing cereals (wheat, rye and barley). RIDASCREEN®FAST Gliadin sensitive is a R5-based sandwich … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7051
RIDASCREEN® Gliadin	Reference ELISA test method for gluten detection! Ensure safe quantitative analysis of prolamins from wheat (gliadin), rye (secalin) and barley (hordein) in food with the reference method. The RIDASCREEN® Gliadin in combination with the Cocktail … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7001
RIDASCREEN®FAST Cashew	The RIDASCREEN®FAST Cashew is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay developed for the quantitative analysis of Cashew in food. Exemplarily for the food groups pastries and sweets have been tested during the assay’s development: cookies, chocolate and ice … Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6872
RIDASCREEN®FAST Hazelnut	RIDASCREEN®FAST Hazelnut is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of hazelnut (e.g. traces of hazelnut) in food such as cereals, bakery products, ice cream and chocolate. Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6802
RIDASCREEN®FAST Sesame	RIDASCREEN®FAST Sesame is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of sesame or parts of sesame (as ingredient components or contamination) in instant soup, chocolate dessert, bakery products and crackers. Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7202
RIDASCREEN®FAST Soya	RIDASCREEN®FAST Soya is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of native and processed soya proteins in food. Such products are beverages and food as sausages, dressings, bakery products, ice, chocolate, soup, sauce, margarine, … Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7102
RIDASCREEN®FAST Milk	RIDASCREEN®FAST Milk is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay to quantify milk proteins (casein and ß-lactoglobulin) in food containing whey, milk or milk powder such as sausages, ice cream, chocolate, bakery goods, cake and bread mix, soups, sauces, … Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R4652
RIDASCREEN®FAST β-Lactoglobulin	RIDASCREEN®FAST β-Lactoglobulin is a sandwich enzyme mmunoassay for the quantitative analysis of native and processed β-lactoglobulin in rice crispies, chocolate and sausage. Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R4912
RIDASCREEN® ß-Lactoglobulin	RIDASCREEN® ß-Lactoglobulin is a competitive enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of β-lactoglobulin in hydrolyzed milk products including hypoallergenic baby food. The assay is calibrated to hydrolyzed β-lactoglobulin check … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R4901
RIDASCREEN®FAST Lysozym	RIDASCREEN®FAST Lysozym is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of lysozyme (hen’s egg protein) in food like wine, cheese and sausage. Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6452
RIDASCREEN®FAST Lupine	RIDASCREEN®FAST Lupine is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of lupine proteins in food (e.g. juices, wine, beer, sausages, noodles, chocolate, bakery products or ice cream). Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6102
RIDASCREEN® Gliadin competitive	Specialty ELISA test method (competitive) for gluten detection in fermented and hydrolyzed food! Ensures safe quantitative analysis of prolamine peptide fragments from wheat (gliadin), rye (secalin) and barley (hordein) in fermented or hydrolysed … Read more	Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7021
RIDASCREEN®FAST Gliadin	Fast ELISA test method for gluten detection! Ensures a safe and fast quantitative analysis of prolamins from wheat (gliadin), rye (secalin) and barley (hordein) in food. RIDASCREEN®FAST Gliadin is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative … Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R7002
RIDASCREEN®FAST Almond	RIDASCREEN®FAST Almond is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of almond or parts of almond in food. As representative samples for the food groups pastries and sweets the following matrices have been tested during the assay´s … Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6901
RIDASCREEN®FAST Egg Protein	RIDASCREEN®FAST Egg Protein is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of whole egg (-powder) in food like salad dressings, sausages, wines, baking-mixtures for cakes or bread and ice cream. Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R6402
RIDASCREEN®FAST Casein	RIDASCREEN®FAST Casein is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of casein in food like bakery goods, cake and bread mix, non-hydrolyzed milk-based infant formula, ice cream, beverages, chocolate, wine and sausages. Read more	Microtiter plate with 48 wells (6 strips with 8 removable wells each)	R4612