Hygiena has introduced its new, ultra-sensitive allergen detection tests for soy, hazelnut, and almond in support of increasingly thorough Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) protocols. The enhanced performance of Hygiena’s new lateral flow tests, AlerTox Sticks Soy PLUS, AlerTox Sticks Hazelnut PLUS, and AlerTox Sticks Almond PLUS, allows food operators to detect allergen residues as low as 1.5 parts per million (ppm) in food products, liquids, and environmental samples.

According to Hygiena, food allergies affect approximately 2.5 percent of the global population, with reported prevalence rates ranging from 1 percent to 10 percent. Symptoms associated with an allergic response include anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is imperative for food operators to identify undisclosed allergens and inadvertent allergen cross-contamination as a component of their food safety plan, as well as be able to present sound justification for their adopted test sensitivity thresholds.