Development of real-time PCR assays for the detection of lupin residues in food products

Lupin is a legume from the Leguminosae family that is used, amongst other, for human nutrition. In Europe, lupin is used as a substitute for soy in bakery and dietary products and recently its consumption has increased significantly. Unfortunately lupin is known to trigger allergic reactions in sensitised individuals and therefore its use in food products requires a mandatory declaration on the label in accordance with Directive 2007/68/EC. To protect the allergic consumer the availability of detection methods for the identification of lupin in food products is required. Here we present the development of two real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods that allow the detection of lupin-specific DNA as a marker for the presence of this allergenic ingredient in food products. Genomic DNA sequences coding for conglutin genes were chosen as targets for the detection of lupin. One primer set and probe was designed for the amplification of a 153 bp fragment of α-conglutin; another primer set and probe was designed for the detection of a 150 bp δ-conglutin amplicon. Lupin at a level of 10 mg/kg food matrix could be detected in cookies baked from a lupin containing dough using the α-conglutin method. Since lupin is used in bakery products the effects exerted by heat treatments on lupin detection by real-time PCR have been investigated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses were performed in parallel to compare the detection of lupin DNA with that of lupin protein in market products. Qualitative ELISA results confirm results obtained by the real-time PCR methods targeting α- and δ-conglutin.