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Allergens Preventing cross-contamination of foods with allergens has become an essential part of food safety assurance. We offer a testing service for detection of food allergens and have been involved in troubleshooting allergen problems for companies. Member-funded projects underpin our consultancy and services in this area. For example, the value of off-the-shelf allergen detection kits for validating cleaning regimes was explored. This demonstrated that companies using the tests on samples such as rinse waters need to allow for the potential effects of cleaning fluid on test performance. A second aspect of concern is the possibility of cross-contamination via workers´ overalls - perhaps by co-laundering overalls used in areas where allergens are handled with those used in allergen-free areas. In the scenarios studied, the laundry is unlikely to be a route for crosscontamination, though again companies are advised to consider validations appropriate for their own practices. Follow-up work is exploring potential routes for cross-contamination in food service environments - such as dishwashers, hand washing of utensils and food service counters. Contact: Dr Helen Arrowsmith |