Simultaneous analysis of multiple allergens in food products by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

There is currently no cure for food allergies, and sufferers can only rely on the correct labeling of foods to avoid allergens. Hence, it is important that analytical methods are sensitive and accurate enough to screen for the presence of multiple allergens in food products. In this study, we developed an LC-tandem MS method that is able to simultaneously screen or quantify the signature tryptic peptides of multiple allergen commodities. This method is capable of screening and identifying egg white, skim milk, peanut, soy, and tree nuts (almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, and walnut) at a detection limit of 10 ppm in incurred bread and cookies. It was further tested for the quantitative analysis of whole-egg, whole-milk, peanut butter, and hazelnut commodities, which are incurred or spiked into selected food matrixes as defined in AOAC INTERNATIONAL Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2016.002. The method demonstrated excellent sensitivity with a Method quantitative limit of 3 ppm for whole egg and 10 ppm for the remaining three allergen commodities. It also demonstrated good recovery (60‒119%) and repeatability (RSDr <20%), with an analytical range of 10–1000 ppm for each allergen commodity and was able to meet the minimum performance requirements of the SMPR.