RSSL First With New Allergens

Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) has expanded the range of food allergens it can test for, and is now the first laboratory in the UK to offer a commercial testing service that can include pistachio, pecan, celery and mustard. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques RSSL can now detect trace quantities of these potential allergens in a wide range of food matrices.

Although EU Food Labelling Regulations (2003/89 EC) list 12 key major allergens that must be labelled on all food products, it is clear that there are many more food ingredients to which some consumers are allergic. Hence RSSL offers a testing service that covers all the main allergens, plus a range of other less well-known allergens.

The company can also offer advice and consultancy in process, factory and laboratory design, as well as staff training, environmental monitoring and allergen-specific HACCP consultancy. As an example, RSSL has recently helped the UK's biggest producer of gluten-free products to establish in-house testing facilities.

"The new regulations have raised the bar in terms of the standards that need to be observed during manufacturing," says Simon Flanagan, Head of Routine Analysis at RSSL. "We are here to assist companies to meet their obligations under the new Regulations."