Thermal processing of peanut impacts detection by current analytical techniques. (30th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marsh, Justin T.; Jayasena, Shyamali; Gaskin, Ferdelie; Baumert, Joseph L.; Johnson, Philip
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 313(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05-30
• Subjects: Peanut -- Arachis hypogaea -- Allergen -- Food allergy -- Spice -- Mass spectrometry -- ELISA; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.126019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: Quantitative performance of commercial peanut detection methods is variable in cumin and garlic. Peanut detection methods underestimate roasted peanut and overestimate raw peanut. Protein target largely determines performance in different processing conditions. Detection methods based on the major peanut allergens Ara h 2 or 6 are more robust. Mass spectrometry can be used to determine more robust targets for new detection methods. Abstract: Recalls of spice containing products due to undeclared peanut have highlighted the importance of analytical methods in these foods. We examined the performance of peanut detection methods in cumin and garlic, focusing on quantitative ELISA. Although suitable for qualitative detection, accurate quantitation proved difficult. Roasting of peanut contaminants influenced ELISA results, with raw peanut over-detected (3.9-fold) and roasted peanut under-detected (3.5-fold). Further investigation demonstrated the importance of protein targets for ELISA. The kit which gave the least variable results was based on detection of 2S albumin proteins. Additionally, we show that these proteins are more efficiently extracted from roasted peanut. We conclude that current methods are largely suitable for the qualitative detection of peanut in cumin and garlic. Quantitation relies on assumptions as to the state of thermal processing of peanut. We suggest that analytical method providers address robust detection by target selection, including identifying targets by MS.