Allergen Testing Capability

Food allergens are among the leading causes of food safety incidents, recalls, and consumer health risks worldwide. Even trace levels of undeclared allergens can trigger severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, making allergen control a critical responsibility for food manufacturers and brand owners.

allergen-testing-capability

Eurofins delivers comprehensive allergen testing capabilities through its global network of ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. Using validated analytical methods, robust sampling strategies, and expert regulatory interpretation, Eurofins helps food businesses detect, control, and prevent allergen contamination while meeting global regulatory and labeling requirements.

Why Allergen Testing Is Essential

Allergen contamination can occur at multiple points in the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to final packaging. Effective allergen testing enables manufacturers to protect consumers, ensure compliance, and maintain brand trust.

Key Benefit	Purpose
Consumer safety	Prevents allergic reactions and health incidents
Regulatory compliance	Meets FSSAI, EU, FDA, Codex, and GFSI requirements
Accurate labeling	Supports correct allergen declarations
Recall prevention	Reduces costly withdrawals and market damage
Export assurance	Ensures acceptance in global markets

Major Food Allergens Monitored

Eurofins testing programs cover all globally recognized priority allergens.

Allergen Category	Examples
Cereals containing gluten	Wheat, barley, rye, oats
Nuts	Almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts
Dairy	Milk, lactose, whey
Eggs	Whole egg, egg white, egg yolk
Soy	Soybeans, soy lecithin
Seafood	Fish, crustaceans, mollusks
Seeds & others	Sesame, mustard, celery, sulphites

Products Commonly Tested

Allergen risks vary by product type, processing method, and facility design.

Packaged and processed foods
Bakery and confectionery products
Dairy and infant nutrition
Ready-to-eat meals
Spices, herbs, and seasoning blends
Plant-based and vegan foods
Nutraceuticals and supplements

Sources of Allergen Contamination

Stage	Typical Risk Factors
Raw materials	Undeclared allergens in ingredients
Processing	Shared equipment, cross-contact
Cleaning	Inadequate sanitation validation
Packaging	Label errors or mix-ups
Storage & transport	Cross-contamination between products

Eurofins supports root-cause identification and preventive control strategies to minimize these risks.

Parameters to Test in Allergen Screening

	Parameter	Description
1	Allergen-Specific Proteins	Detection of key proteins that trigger immune responses.
2	Allergen Traces from Cross-Contamination	Verification of very low-level residues in multi-ingredient or shared-line products.
3	Gluten Quantification	Ensures compliance for “Gluten-Free” (≤ 20 ppm) and low-gluten label claims.
4	Processed Food Allergen Stability	Analyzes allergens that may survive baking, extrusion, frying, or roasting.
5	Allergen Panel Testing	Comprehensive multi-allergen screens for complex packaged foods.
6	Verification of Cleaning Effectiveness	Confirms that equipment sanitation removes allergenic residues.

Eurofins Allergen Testing Capabilities

Analytical Methods

ELISA for routine allergen screening
PCR-based DNA analysis for species-specific detection
LC-MS/MS for multiplex allergen confirmation
Lateral flow devices for rapid on-site checks

Testing Scope

Single-allergen and multi-allergen panels
Raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products
Cleaning validation and environmental swabs

Allergen Compliance Workflow

Step	Objective	Eurofins Solution
Ingredient screening	Identify allergen presence	Targeted ELISA / PCR
Process verification	Prevent cross-contact	In-process monitoring
Cleaning validation	Confirm sanitation effectiveness	Swab and rinse testing
Finished product testing	Label accuracy verification	Multi-allergen panels
Reporting	Audit and export readiness	Digital CoA and trend analysis

Regulatory and Labeling Alignment

Regulations and Standards

Food Allergens – FSSAI Guidelines (India)

As per Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 and Direction dated 22nd October 2021 (effective from 1st July 2022), the following allergens must be clearly declared on pre-packaged food labels.

Allergen	Declaration Requirement	Specific Exemptions / Notes
Cereals containing gluten	Name of the cereal must be declared (e.g., wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt or their hybridised strains)	• Wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose • Wheat-based maltodextrins • Barley glucose syrups • Cereals used for alcoholic distillates (gluten ≤ 20 mg/kg)
Crustaceans and products thereof	Declare as “Crustacean”	None
Eggs and egg products	Declare as “Egg”	None
Fish and fish products	Declare as “Fish”	None
Peanuts and products thereof	Declare as “Peanut” or “Nut”	None
Tree nuts and products thereof	Declare as “Nut” (specific name recommended)	None
Soybeans and products thereof	Declare as “Soy”	None
Milk and milk products	Declare as “Milk”	None
Sulphites	Declare as “Sulphite” when ≥ 10 mg/kg	None
Cross-contamination (voluntary)	“May contain [name of allergen]”	Only when unavoidable
Highly refined oils & distilled alcoholic beverages derived from allergens	No declaration required	Applies to fully refined oils and distillates
Raw agricultural commodities	Completely exempt	—

Food Allergens – European Union (EU) Law

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Food Information to Consumers Regulation) – Annex II lists 14 substances or products causing allergies or intolerances that must always be declared and emphasised in the ingredients list (effective since 13 December 2014).

Allergen	Declaration Requirement	Specific Exemptions / Notes
Cereals containing gluten	Specific name of cereal (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut, etc.)	• Wheat/barley glucose syrups & dextrose • Wheat maltodextrins • Distillates for spirits
Crustaceans and products thereof	“Crustaceans”	None
Eggs and products thereof	“Eggs”	None
Fish and products thereof	“Fish”	• Fish gelatine/isinglass as fining agent or carrier
Peanuts and products thereof	“Peanuts”	None
Soybeans and products thereof	“Soybeans” or “Soya”	• Fully refined soybean oil & fat • Tocopherols, phytosterols from soy sources
Milk and products thereof (incl. lactose)	“Milk”	• Whey/lactitol in distillates • Certain milk derivatives
Nuts (tree nuts)	“Nuts” + specific name (almond, hazelnut, walnut, cashew, pecan, Brazil nut, pistachio, macadamia/Queensland nut)	• Nuts used in distillates & certain flavourings
Celery and products thereof	“Celery”	None
Mustard and products thereof	“Mustard”	None
Sesame seeds and products thereof	“Sesame seeds” or “Sesame”	None
Lupin and products thereof	“Lupin”	None
Molluscs and products thereof	“Molluscs”	None
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites	“Sulphur dioxide and sulphites” when ≥ 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L (expressed as SO₂)	Threshold applies

https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Labelling_Display_30_06_2022.pdf

Case Study: Preventing a Major Allergen Recall

A ready-to-eat food manufacturer detected trace peanut contamination in a non-nut product during export testing. Eurofins conducted targeted ELISA screening and environmental swab analysis, identifying cross-contact from shared packaging equipment. Corrective cleaning protocols and revised allergen zoning were implemented, preventing a large-scale recall and restoring export approvals.

Why Choose Eurofins

Global network of accredited laboratories
Comprehensive allergen coverage across food categories
High-sensitivity, validated analytical methods
Expert regulatory and labeling support
Fast turnaround times with digital reporting

Strengthen your allergen control program with Eurofins’ advanced allergen testing capabilities. From raw material screening to finished product verification, our experts help you protect consumers, ensure compliance, and safeguard your brand.

Partner with Eurofins your trusted pathway to compliant, export-ready food

Enquire now: www.eurofins.in/food-testing/enquire-now/