naSRPS EN 15634-7:2025

Foodstuffs - Detection of food allergens by molecular biological methods - Part 7: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) - Qualitative detection and quantitative determination of a specific DNA sequence in food by real-time PCR

Scope

This document specifies a method for the qualitative detection and quantitative determination of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) DNA in food using real-time PCR and targeting a multicopy mitochondrial sequence, in the context of allergen analyses.
The method was previously validated in an interlaboratory study (ring trial) and applied to DNA extracted from samples that consist of defined proportions of peanut in rice biscuits, wheat biscuits, cooked sausage and milk powder.
The limit of detection (LOD) of the peanut real-time PCR system has been determined experimentally to be at least 0,5 mg peanut per kg food. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was tested using different food samples spiked with peanuts (see 8.5). The ring trial data showed that 5 mg of peanuts per kilogram of food can be reliably determined. A good quantification is possible, especially if the source of the allergenic ingredient (e.g. roasted peanuts) is known and can be used for the calibration of the method.