Unsuspected Lupin Allergens Hidden in Food

Abstract

Background: Lupin is a herbaceous plant from the legume family whose seed allergens usually have cross-reaction with peanut. Lupin flour is used in human nutrition because of its high nutritional and functional qualities. Aims: The aim of this work was to detect non-specified lupin proteins contained in several manufactured foods. Methods: Serum from a patient suffering anaphylactic episodes after ingestion of a certain brand of cookies and with oral allergy syndrome after eating chicken bouillon was used as a tracer. Lupin seeds and commercial food extracts were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting and immunoblotting inhibition. Lupin extract allergenicity after thermal processing was also analyzed. Results: A lupin allergen with a molecular weight close to 14 kDa was detected in extracts from cookies, a chicken bouillon cube and a chicken dehydrated soup. Conclusions: The presence of unsuspected, hidden non-specified lupin sources in food labeling was demonstrated. According to the results of this study, it is important for food-allergic patients that food labels should declare all the components irrespective of their quantity.

Legumes seed storage proteins characterization by SDS-PAGE and Lab-on-a-Chip electrophoresis

“…The legume protein fractions are excellent candidates for the development of a variety of foods, such as bakery, dairy and meat products (Rojas-Hijazo et al, 2006). Proteins isolated from the field bean seed have been shown to have antioxidative activity, whereas the lectin agglutinin may slow the progression of colon cancer (Duranti, 2006).…”

Emerging Allergens and the Future

“…The most distinctly reactive band was the 43 -kDa protein [68,80] . More recently, Rojas -Hijazo [75] reported the presence of unsuspected, hidden lupin allergen with MW close to 14 kDa in extracts from cookies, a chicken bouillon cube, and a chicken dehydrated soup. Recently, the assessment of potentially allergenic polypeptides in lupin seeds by using two -dimensional (2D) electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting revealed two dominant IgE -reacting polypeptides of lupin seeds: one corresponding to conglutin γ (a basic tetrameric protein with sedimentation coeffi cient 7S, consisting of disulfi de -linked 30 -and 17 -kDa polypeptides) and the other corresponding to the basic subunits of lupin 11S [67,81] .…”

Lupin Allergen Detection

“…The possibility of considerable underreporting of lupin allergy cannot be excluded because until recently it was a hidden, undeclared ingredient in foodstuffs (Løvik, 2003;Smith et al, 2004;Rojas-Hijazo et al, 2006;De las Marinas et al, 2007). In Europe, this changed in December 2006, when "lupin and products there-of" was added to Directive 2006/142/EC of the European Parliament and Council, amending Appendix IIIa of Directive 2003/89/EC (EC, 2004), to the list of major allergens that by mandate have to be labeled on prepackaged foods (EC, 2006) in accordance with an opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA, 2005).…”