Simultaneous Analysis of Food Allergens, Including Nuts and Fruits, Using a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

User Benefits

- Simultaneous detection of allergens from seven specified ingredients and ten ingredients equivalent to the specified ones is possible, and calibration curves can be prepared from 1 ppm. - The LC-MS/MS method enables detection of all target ingredients with a single sample preparation.

Introduction

Food allergies are caused by excessive immune responses to specific food proteins (allergens) and can occasionally result in severe symptoms. To prevent health risks associated with food allergies, food labeling is strictly regulated in many countries. In Japan, based on the severity and frequency of past health incidents, labeling is mandatory for seven specified allergens and recommended for twenty allergens equivalent to the specified ones in prepackaged processed foods. In recent years, LC-MS/MS has attracted increasing attention for allergen analysis due to its various advantages. This application news presents an example of the simultaneous analysis of seven specified food allergens and ten allergens equivalent to specified ingredients in processed foods using LC-MS/MS. Specific peptides and corresponding MRM transitions for four types of nuts and four types of fruits were newly selected and developed using Skyline software. In addition, examples of calibration curve preparation using extraction reagents and standard materials optimized for food allergen analysis are presented.

January 13, 2026 GMT