SELECTBIO

Flow Chemistry Europe 2016

Biodetection & Biosensors 2015

Lab-on-a-Chip and Mircrofludics 2015

Flow Chemistry India 2015

Discovery Chemistry Congress 2015

Diagnostics & Biomarkers 2015

The reliable analysis of food allergens is the prerequisite for ensuring compliance with legally required labelling regulations. This can be carried out by means of either protein or DNA detection. Protein detection has the advantage of directly detecting the allergenic component and can currently be carried out using immunological (ELISA/simple rapid tests) or mass spectrometry-based (MS) techniques. DNA detection is indirect, but allows the presence of food allergens to be validated through the use of another marker. The advantages and disadvantages of each method need to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Current Pitfalls in Allergen Analysis

Despite huge research investments on mycotoxins and other toxic secondary metabolites of fungi and plants, prevention, control and proper exposure assessment remain difficult and agricultural and food industry continue to be vulnerable to problems of contamination.

Emerging Toxins in Food and Feed

Many parallels can be drawn between the food regulatory challenges of the United States and those of the European Union. The balance between the needs of the member nations under a central regulating body is similar to America’s new focus on an “Integrated Food Safety System” where the federal government works more closely with the 50 states.

Food Safety Policies – Support, Opposition, and Ignorance

Good agricultural practices, plant diseases management and adequate storage conditions reduce mycotoxins levels in the food chain, yet do not eliminate them completely. In the scientific field, there is therefore a progressive awareness about the potential implications of food processing on mycotoxins: it can potentially alter the concentration of mycotoxins because of mechanical or thermal energies that in fact determine transformation and/or degradation. 

Importance of Food Processing in the Area of Food Safety & Mycotoxins

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic antibody mimics ('plastic antibodies') that specifically recognize molecular targets. They are highly cross-linked polymers that are synthesized through the polymerization of monomers bearing suitable functional groups, in the presence of the target molecule acting as a molecular template. This templating induces three-dimensional binding sites in the polymer that are complementary to the template in terms of size, shape and chemical functionality.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Plastic Antibody Mimics for Assays and Sensors in Food Analysis

John O'Brien, Deputy Head, Nestle Research Center, Switzerland speaking at Food Safety & Analysis Congress 2016. 

SELECTBIO

Home

Videos

Playlists

About

Keep up to date with all your favourite videos and channels.

Get personalised notifications on new releases and channel content by subscribing to the LabTube eNewsletter.