Molecular Testing for Food Allergens

This chapter provides an overview of molecular-based testing methods and an insight into their application for food allergen testing. It presents a description of selected nucleic-acid amplification methods that have been applied with potential for food allergen determination. The chapter discusses the procedure and consideration of using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR for food allergen determination. It highlights some key points that need to be addressed during deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction from foods. To establish a PCR test, the first step is to design a primer set that is specific to the target. After designing the primers, a protocol can be established according to the reagents selected. DNA testing offers exceptional advantages over protein-based testing, and is useful in food allergen management, especially in food manufacturing.