Allergens: tree nuts
Phytocontrol offers detection and quantification of tree nut protein traces in foodstuffs using the ELISA technique, under COFRAC accreditation.
Tree nuts (also called nuts) are foods with a solid, generally impermeable shell. This category includes almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts and pecans.
These nuts belong to the list of 14 regulatory allergens requiring mandatory labelling on packaging under Annex II of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, known as the “FIC” Regulation.
What are the allergy risks?
Tree nut allergies are a common type of food allergy. Contact with these proteins triggers an immune system response that releases histamine: the allergic reaction. This reaction is a defence mechanism of the immune system, and its symptoms can vary between individuals:
- Intense itching
- Itching of the mouth, throat, eyes, skin or any other area
- Digestive symptoms such as stomach ache, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting
- Respiratory symptoms such as asthma, rhinitis, nasal congestion or runny nose
- Difficulty swallowing
- Systemic symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure or anaphylactic shock
Controlling the tree nut allergen risk in your products
The Phytocontrol Laboratory is able to identify allergenic tree nut proteins in the following food families: raw and processed cereal products, dried fruits, sweetened and sweetener-containing products, spices and dairy products. Detection and quantification of Brazil nuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios are carried out using the ELISA method, under COFRAC accreditation.
The ELISA technique is an immuno-enzymatic detection method that visualises an antigen-antibody reaction through a colour reaction produced by the action of a substrate on an enzyme previously bound to the antibody.
See our COFRAC accreditation scope for allergens, scope no. 1-1904 for Laboratoire Phytocontrol 1.
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