Food allergies pose a significant health risk, resulting in numerous hospitalizations every year, as even trace amounts of allergens can trigger severe reactions. Cross-contamination of food products can happen easily in the production process, so it's important to have reliable methods of testing for allergens.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Lisa Wu, undergraduate student in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois, conducted research on detecting food allergens with near-infrared spectroscopy. Credit: College of ACES. A new study conducted at the University of Illinois explores the application of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to detect three types of allergens in quinoa flour. The researchers say the method is fast, easy, non-invasive, inexpensive, and highly accurate. "Detecting adulterated allergenic components in food could benefit millions of people around the world who suffer from food allergies," said Qianyi (Lisa) Wu, an undergraduate student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and The Grainger College of Engineering at U of l, and lead author on the paper. The project was supported by a grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research at U of I. "We use an NIR device to measure spectral information through the reflectance of light in the samples. We tested models with different wavelengths to determine the best NIR system for allergen detection," she added. The researchers used NIR spectroscopy to identify three common allergens—peanut, sesame, and wheat—in quinoa flour, a gluten-free grain that is often used as a wheat substitute. Adulterated or contaminated quinoa could be dangerous for people with allergies, so it is crucial to find any presence of allergens. Traditional laboratory methods for allergen detection typically involve complex…