Premium
Commercial fish ELISA kits have a limited capacity to detect different fish species and their products
Author(s) -
Ruethers Thimo,
Taki Aya C,
Khangurha Jasmit,
Roberts James,
Buddhadasa Saman,
Clarke Dean,
Hedges Claire E,
Campbell Dianne E,
Kamath Sandip D,
Lopata Andreas L,
Koeberl Martina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.10451
Subject(s) - tuna , fish products , fishery , diversity of fish , smoked fish , fish <actinopterygii> , population , biology , food science , aquaculture , shellfish , mackerel , aquatic animal , medicine , environmental health
BACKGROUND Fish is a major food and allergen source, requiring safety declarations on packages. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are often used to ensure that the product meets the required standards with regard to the presence of allergens. Over 1000 different fish species are traded and consumed worldwide, and they are increasingly provided by aquaculture. Up to 3% of the general population is at risk of sometimes fatal allergic reactions to fish, requiring strict avoidance of this commodity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the capacity of three commercially available ELISA tests to detect a wide variety of bony and cartilaginous fish and their products, which is essential to ensure reliable and safe food labeling. RESULTS The detection rates for 57 bony fish ranged from 26% to 61%. Common European and North American species, including carp, cod, and salmon species, demonstrated a higher detection rate than those from the Asia‐Pacific region, including pangasius and several mackerel and tuna species. Among the 17 canned bony fish products, only 65% to 86% were detected, with tuna showing the lowest rate. None of the cartilaginous fish ( n = 9), other vertebrates ( n = 8), or shellfish ( n = 5) were detected. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that three commercial fish ELISA kits had a limited capacity to detect fish and their products. The complexity of fish as a protein source that is increasingly utilized means that there is an urgent need for improved detection methods. This is crucial for the food industry to provide safe seafood products and comply with international legislation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry