Characterization of a rabbit-antiserum for detection of pea protein in foods

Abstract: Food allergy is an IgE-mediated immunological disease, which affects almost 4% of the adult population and up to 6% of children. Proteins from milk, egg, peanuts, soybean, wheat, fish and nuts are the main cause of food allergies. A less common allergen is pea protein. The National Food Administration analyses undeclared pea protein and contaminations of pea protein in foods using rocket immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. For both methods an antiserum against pea protein is needed. The aim of this study has been to characterize a newly developed rabbit-antiserum against pea protein. It is important to know if the antiserum is specific against peas, the detection as well as the quantification limits before it can be taken into use. The results of the study show that the antiserum was not absolutely specific, since it cross-reacted with chickpeas, fenugreek and lenses. However there is an "in-house" established PCR-method that can distinguish between chickpeas, fenugreek and peas and that method can be used as a complement to the rocket immunoelectrophoresis. The PCR-method cannot be used alone because it is not quantitative. Rocket immunoelectro¬phoresis detects 0,003% pea protein with purified IgG-antibodies from the antiserum.