Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of Cashew Nut in Foods by a Specific Real-time PCR Method

  • Published:
Food Analytical Methods Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Appropriate detection methods have to be provided to assure the compliance with the recently established regulatory provisions concerning the labeling of allergens in food. Therefore, a novel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system for the specific and sensitive detection of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale) was developed. Specificity was checked against DNA from 56 plant and animal species to avoid cross-reactivity to phylogenetically related and other food-relevant organisms. The absolute limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.5 pg genomic cashew DNA and 10 copies, respectively, and the practical LOD examined exemplarily for pesto Genovese was 2 mg/kg. In addition, analysis of different retail samples was performed to demonstrate the suitability of the new assay for manifold applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berdal KG, Holst-Jensen A (2001) Roundup Ready soybean event-specific real-time quantitative PCR assay and estimation of the practical detection and quantification limits in GMO analyses. European Food Research and Technology 213:432–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brzezinski JL (2006) Detection of cashew nut DNA in spiked baked goods using a real-time polymerase chain reaction method. J AOAC Int 89(4):1035–1038

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhanaraj AL, Bhaskara Rao EVV, Swamy KRM, Bhat MG, Prasad DT, Sondur SN (2002) Using RAPDs to assess the diversity in Indian cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) germplasm. J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 77(1):41–47

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Network of GMO Laboratories (2005) Definition of minimum performance requirements for analytical methods of GMO testing. http://gmo-crl.jrc.it/guidancedocs.htm

  • Fernandez C, Fiandor A, Martinez-Garate A, Martinez Quesada J (1995) Allergy to pistachio: crossreactivity between pistacchio nut and other Anacardiaceae. Clin Exp Allergy 25(12):1254–1259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin PR (2004) Food allergen detection methods: a coordinated approach. J AOAC Int 87(6):1383–1390

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piknova L, Kuchta T (2007) Detection of cashew nuts in food by real-time polymerase chain reaction. J Food Nutr Res 46(3):101–104

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poms RE, Anklam E (2004) Polymerase chain reaction techniques for food allergen detection. J AOAC Int 87(6):1391–1397

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poms RE, Klein CL, Anklam E (2004) Methods for allergen analysis in food: a review. Food Addit Contam 21(1):1–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robotham JM, Wang F, Seamon V, Teuber SS, Sathe SK, Sampson HA, Beyer K, Seavy M, Roux KH (2005) Ana o 3, an important cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) allergen of the 2S albumin family. J Allergy Clin Immunol 115(6):1284–1290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sicherer SH, Furlong TJ, Munoz-Furlong A, Burks AW, Sampson HA (2001) A voluntary registry for peanut and tree nut allergy: characteristics of the first 5149 registrants. J Allergy Clin Immunol 108:128–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taberlet P, Gielly L, Pautou G, Bouvet J (1991) Universal primers for amplification of three non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA. Plant Mol Biol 17(5):1105–1109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teuber SS, Sathe SK, Peterson WR, Roux KH (2002) Characterization of the soluble allergenic proteins of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.). J Agric Food Chem 50(22):6543–6549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Robotham BS, Teuber SS, Tawde P, Sathe SK, Roux KH (2002a) Ana o1, a cashew (Anacardium occidental) allergen of the vicilin seed storage protein family. J Allergy Clin Immunol 110(1):160–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Robotham JM, Teuber SS, Sathe SK, Roux KH (2002b) Ana o 2, a major cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut allergen of the legumin family. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 132(1):27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei Y, Sathe SK, Teuber SS, Roux KH (2003) A sensitive sandwich ELISA for the detection of trace amounts of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut in foods. J Agric Food Chem 51(11):3215–3221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The project was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment, Health and Consumer Protection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany

    Alexandra Ehlert, Christine Hupfer, Anja Demmel & Ulrich Busch

  2. Center of Life and Food Sciences, General Food Technology, Technical University Munich, Am Forum 2, 85350, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany

    Alexandra Ehlert, Anja Demmel & Karl-Heinz Engel

Authors
  1. Alexandra Ehlert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christine Hupfer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anja Demmel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karl-Heinz Engel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ulrich Busch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulrich Busch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ehlert, A., Hupfer, C., Demmel, A. et al. Detection of Cashew Nut in Foods by a Specific Real-time PCR Method. Food Anal. Methods 1, 136–143 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-008-9023-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-008-9023-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation