GEN-MKT-18-7897-A
Aug 17, 2015 | Blogs, Food / Beverage | 0 comments
If you suffer from peanut allergies, you may want to think twice before diving into a bowl of something spicy. The reason being, some shipments of North American and European products containing ground cumin, cumin powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and pilli-pilli powder have been found to contain undeclared peanut and almond proteins. Think dinner kits, supermarket curries, veggie and black bean burgers, and salsa.
Here is how it all started: In 2014, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) discovered undeclared peanut and almond protein in products containing cumin. Then, in December 2014, North American cumin samples turned up containing peanut protein. In February 2015, the FDA issued a statement declaring that people with highly sensitive peanut allergies should avoid these foods. Products containing known contaminants were then recalled in rapid succession. In all, 20 alerts were issued by the FDA and products were recalled throughout Europe. Some experts say the trace amounts of protein are the results of poor harvest and crop failure, with nuts used as a substitute. The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) has taken a more conservative approach pointing out that spices such as cumin are grown alongside peanuts resulting in low-level cross-contact.
You can be certain labs are receiving an influx of spices for which to test. However, can we trust the results? To date, testing has not been fool-proof. Traditionally enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based methods are used for food allergen testing. However, ELISA is plagued by false positive and false negative outcomes.
What is the Solution?
Here at SCIEX, we propose a multi-allergen screening method to do the job. This LC-MS/MS application delivers:
Together, we can help keep allergens out of spices for good. To read the full application note click here.
We recently hosted a webinar focused on streamlining forensic toxicology workflows, featuring expert speakers Maria Sarkisian from the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (SFOCME) and Dr. Dick Paul Kloos from the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). The webinar explored innovative LC-MS/MS strategies that help forensic labs improve efficiency. In this blog, we share highlights from the Q&A session, where our speakers addressed the audience’s questions and shared actionable insights for forensic laboratory professionals.
We’re excited to launch our Ask the PFAS expert series, where we tackle some of the most pressing questions around PFAS testing, containment, and contamination control. In this first instalment, we sit down with Simon Roberts, a SCIEX application scientist, to share practical insights and expert advice.
Thanks to Starbucks, who launched the pumpkin spice latte in 2003 (yes, over 20 years ago), the spice mixture became a global phenomenon, loved and disliked at the same time.
Posted by
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Share this post with your network