Détection des allergènes

Undeclared allergens can trigger severe reactions in consumers and drive costly recalls. Regulations now require clear labeling of major allergens — in the U.S., the FDA defines nine major food allergens, including sesame, and in the EU, food businesses must declare 14 allergens, including celery, mustard, lupin and others (FDA).

Reliable in-house allergen testing lets you release product faster, verify sanitation steps, and defend ‘free-from’ and ‘may contain’ claims with data.

• Protect consumers: Reduce risk of severe allergic reactions.
• Avoid recalls: Catch residue before it leaves the plant.
• Prove label claims: Document ‘dairy-free,’ ‘gluten-free,’ ‘sesame-free,’ etc.
• Satisfy auditors: Demonstrate validated cleaning and changeover controls.
• Speed up release: Get actionable results in minutes (lateral flow), under 2 hours (PCR/ELISA). Hygiena’s lateral flow AlerTox® Sticks are designed for line-side checks with no lab equipment, and PCR/ELISA kits deliver highly sensitive quantitative results.

Allergen risk isn’t just in finished product. It can come from incoming ingredients, shared lines, tools, air/dust, employees, or rework. Hygiena’s workflow gives you checkpoints from pre-op through final label sign-off.

Testing can be surface-based (to verify sanitation), in-process (during changeovers), or product-based (to quantify allergen content before release or to defend ‘free-from’ claims). Hygiena offers tools for each step: rapid swab & lateral flow tests, quantitative ELISA, and high-sensitivity real-time PCR.

• Incoming ingredients: Verify supplier claims (e.g., peanut-free, gluten-free) using PCR or ELISA kits that can detect down to low ppm levels, often within ~100 minutes.
• Equipment & surfaces: After cleaning, swab and run a lateral flow device (like AllerFlow Gluten) to confirm the line is allergen-free in ~10 minutes, no lab required.
• In-process changeovers: Use AlerTox® Sticks right on the floor during product switches (e.g., peanut → non-peanut SKU). Kits are designed to be run by production staff, not just lab techs.
• Final product & label claim: Quantify allergen content with ELISA or PCR and keep digital records for auditors and regulators. Hygiena’s PCR kits (“foodproof®”) can detect allergens like gluten, peanut, hazelnut, soy, celery, etc., often to 0.1–1 ppm in complex matrices like spices, ice cream, chocolate, and meat products.