Simultaneous quantification of six major allergens in commercial foods for children using a multiplex array on a digital versatile disc

Abstract

The hypothesis of this study is centered around the logic that an enhanced analysis of potential allergens during the food production can lead to increased accuracy and reliability of food labeling. The development of a cost-effective and straightforward optoelectrical microanalytical system for the simultaneous quantification of the six most common food allergens (peanut, hazelnut, almond, milk, wheat, and soybean) is presented. The system uses a regular versatile disc (DVD) functionalized with highly selective antibodies in a microarray format and a DVD drive as the optical detector. The multiplexed assay reliably (RSD < 20 %) determines the level of the allergenic proteins ranging from 0.1 to 143.4 ng mL−1. The analysis of food consumables (biscuits, seafood substitutes, and probiotic foods) revealed a 100 % accuracy in identifying the allergens ingredients declared on the label. The method offers potential for application as a high throughput biosensing tool for screening multiple allergens in commercial foods.