2 replies to this topic

[narayanghimire]

Hi guys!

My employer is food ingredients manufacturer. Now we want to declare our facility as Peanut Free facility. In our facilities, with other food ingredients, color and additives, we also handle Caramel Color Liquid. All company peanut free protocol and policy requirements in this facility are strictly in place.

Only the situation is, I want to validate the overall effectiveness of the peanut free policy that is in place. Most of time, I used to do allergen testing on raw materials and finish products in house and out sourcing the tests in ISO 17025 accrediated laboratory.

However, I found that the AOAC recommended all three ELISA kits to test peanut allergen tests are not recommended to test for peanut allergen in caramel color. From reliable source, I am informed ELISA may give false positive result for pure caramel color. It is also cited that, even PCR might not be right for detecting caramel color peanut allergen status by analytical test methods. Furthermore, I failed to find any analytical test threshold established by any responsible authority across the world till today including FDA or CFIA, for peanut allergen.

Upon such case, how Can I validate that the Caramel color we handle did not contained any peanut allergen. Please note that, caramel color is made by burning sugar or corn syrup at high temperature in the presence of acid to caramallize the sugars. It did not contain any peanut ingredients as it's ingredients and we also donot allow it to contaminate with any peanuts/nut allergen.

I am expecting critical advice from all of you.

Narayan Ghimire

[Charles.C]

Dear leansixsigma,

Welcome to the forum !

It’s an interesting post and I think has some basic similarities to a less technical one (not caramel) posted a few weeks ago. The conclusion then was rather vague however one (unsurprising) general comment was the popularity of an escape route via an arbitrary warning of potential occurrence on the label. I realise you are trying to improve on this option.

I wonder if you hv already established whether a specific local regulatory answer to yr query already exists.? From previous unrelated examples, Canada seems to hv a rather comprehensive internal control apparatus regarding safety issues ??

Hopefully there is a “nut allergens in caramel” specialist here. ?

Rgds / Charles.C

[cosmo]

Hi guys!


Only the situation is, I want to validate the overall effectiveness of the peanut free policy that is in place. Most of time, I used to do allergen testing on raw materials and finish products in house and out sourcing the tests in ISO 17025 accrediated laboratory.

Upon such case, how Can I validate that the Caramel color we handle did not contained any peanut allergen. Please note that, caramel color is made by burning sugar or corn syrup at high temperature in the presence of acid to caramallize the sugars. It did not contain any peanut ingredients as it's ingredients and we also donot allow it to contaminate with any peanuts/nut allergen.

Hi LeanSixSigma

The issue with nut protein detection is that there is no threshold limit in any legislation I have read.
Being a user of food ingredients in a gluten and nut free site I too have found certain ingredient products give a false positive or a non valid test dependant on what the ingredient source is. I have found sugars and gums are the most common at giving this.
Being a user of both Elisa and Rapid type tests (1ppm and 2ppm detection limits) means the claim "nut free"really means not detected.

In this situation to validate the allergen free status of the caramel colour I would send a questioneer to the supplier regarding allergens on their site (cross contamination issue), about their process and the other products manufactured on that process equipment and also include products they may have stored in their finished product warehouse.
By getting the written reply I would suggest that you have shown due dilligence in proving no potential contamination in case of a false positive on the test.
This would give you a probability for risk assessment that would support your claim.

Anyone else had this type of experience?
Cosmo

Edited by cosmo, 15 July 2010 - 02:57 AM.