R-Biopharm at Free From Food Expo: Meet us in Amsterdam!

Food intolerances and allergies are increasing worldwide. Whether lactose, gluten, soy or egg: allergens pose new challenges to food producers. The latest food trends and the aspects food producers should pay attention to, are something you can best find out at the Free From Food Expo, which takes places in June in Amsterdam. Of course, R-Biopharm will be there, too.

In Germany, one out of every three people is suffering from food intolerances or allergies. Lactose intolerance is particularly prevalent, but also other intolerances such as fructose malabsorption or histamine intolerance occur more frequently. Accordingly, the demand for dietary foods is increasing – and not only among affected persons. For example, since gluten-free products are said to be healthy, they are also popular among persons who don’t suffer from coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity. And new food trends are following constantly: today, foods have to be fat-free, sugar-free, salt-free, GM-free or free from preservatives. In addition, more and more people want to eat vegan for ethical reasons, or kosher for religious reasons.

Food producers are facing the challenge to serve these interests and to guarantee that the products actually meet the requirements. In this context, they are also subject to legal regulations. According to EU regulation, food producers have to label the 14 major allergens on the packaging (gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, soy, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, lupines, molluscs, sulphur dioxide and sulphite).

Allergen management: a challenge in food production

In order to ensure correct labelling of allergens, the implementation of an allergen management is essential in food production. This includes the spatial separation of production areas handling allergenic compounds, the use of separate containers and utensils for allergenic ingredients and a regular testing of all machines and utensils for contamination with allergens.

At our stand at the Free From Food Expo, we will inform you about the various methods for testing production areas and food for contamination with allergens. We will be presenting rapid tests for on-site hygiene control as well as highly sensitive ELISA and PCR tests for the final inspection of the allergen content in the finished product. We would be pleased to welcome you at our stand at the Free From Food Expo in Amsterdam and to discuss the allergen testing methods with you.