The second generation of a competitive ELISA for prolamin quantification based on the R5 antibody was studied for method performance and suitability to detect partially hydrolyzed prolamins in food. To be able to convert signal intensities to gluten concentrations, as required by the Codex Alimentarius Standard, a new calibrator consisting of a peptic-tryptic digest of wheat, rye, and barley prolamins was used for the first time. LOD and LOQ of the assay were 1.36 and 5.0 mg prolamin/kg food, respectively. Analysis of beer samples and a hydrolyzed wheat product showed that the assay provided significantly higher prolamin concentrations, compared to the sandwich ELISA based on the same antibody, which is only suitable for the detection of intact prolamins. Spiking experiments with defined concentrations of partially hydrolyzed prolamins gave recoveries ranging from 92 to 136%.

No abstract

Sodium 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl phosphonate (1) was investigated as a stabilising agent for platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) in aqueous solution. This phosphino phosphonate is known to stabilise rhodium nanoparticles (NPs) in water. Here we report that in the case of Pt-NPs this ligand is indirectly involved in the stabilisation mechanism and the actual stabilisation agent is the platinum complex Na(2)[Pt(1)(2)] (2). The reduction of platinum(II) salts in the presence of the phosphonates 1, 2, sodium 2-(diphenylphosphoryl)ethyl phosphonate (3) and 3,3,3-triphenylpropyl phosphonate (4) leads to stable platinum NPs with a remarkably narrow particle size distribution. These platinum NPs show high catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of 1-hexene and 1-chloro-3-nitrobenzene under biphasic as well as heterogeneous (supported on charcoal) conditions. The activity of the supported NPs was 30 times higher than the commercially available catalyst Pt(0) EnCat®. Furthermore, the single-crystal X-ray structures of (1)(MeOH)(2)(H(2)O)(2), (3)(H(2)O)(4), and (4)(2)(H(2)O)(17) have been determined.

Allergen management in food companies is now becoming increasingly important. Under Article 5 of the European Commission Hygiene Code 852/2004, food companies are required to introduce, carry out and maintain regular hygiene controls based on Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points principles. The Codex Alimentarius contains a general description of the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points principles. Thus, Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points is defined as a system, which is designed to identify the health risks from food and to implement preventive measures for their control. With sensitive people, even slight traces of allergens can trigger an allergic reaction, which may result in anaphylactic shock in the severest cases, and this can be lethal if untreated. To ensure food safety for consumer protection, the products must be correctly labelled and cross‐contamination by contaminated raw materials, in production processes, during storage or transportation must be prevented. R‐Biopharm supports food companies when optimizing the allergen management system by offering rapid allergen tests for analysing processes. Food manufacturers should use fast and reliable processes to check for allergen contamination in food production. The increased importance of these detection methods is indicated by the current debate and the fact that some of these methods have been officially validated and approved. Richter M, Haas‐Lauterbach S, Schmitt K (2010). Rapid lateral flow tests in a Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points‐based approach for allergen monitoring. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods, 2, 165–172.