Matrix-normalised real-time PCR approach to quantify soybean as a potential food allergen as affected by thermal processing.

The addition of soybean protein materials to meat products is a common practice in the food industry, being a potential hidden allergenic commodity. This study aimed at proposing a novel specific and highly sensitive real-time PCR system for the detection/quantification of soybean as an allergenic ingredient in processed meat products. The method achieved a limit of detection of 9.8pg of soybean DNA (8.6 copies), with adequate real-time PCR performance parameters, regardless of the soybean material (concentrate or isolate) and after thermal treatments. A normalised approach was also proposed in the range of 0.001-10% (w/w) of soybean material in pork meat, which was successfully validated and applied to processed meat products. Soybean was identified in more than 40% of tested samples of cooked ham and mortadella in the range of 0.1-4% (w/w), 3 samples not complying with labelling regulations as a result of undeclared soybean.