Food Allergen Testing
& Gluten-Free Verification

Protect your consumers and verify your "Free From" labels with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited Gluten-Free verification, plus quantitative screening for the FDA "Big 9" allergens and environmental cleaning validation.

Accreditation

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 · PJLA #117946

Accredited Method

Gluten/Gliadin by R5 Mendez ELISA (SOP 041) · ISO 17025 & FDA LAAF

Also Offered (in-house screen)

FDA Big 9 allergen panel + Sulfites

Turnaround

5–7 Business Days · Rush 48–72h

Prevent Recalls with Reliable Food Allergen Testing

Undeclared allergens are the #1 cause of food recalls in the United States. Under the FASTER Act of 2021, manufacturers must now label nine major allergens, including the newly added Sesame. Accurate compliance combines allergen verification with strong nutritional analysis and food labeling data on the final pack.

AGT Food Labs supports your "Free From" claims through validated commercial ELISA methods. Whether you need to confirm a gluten-free production run or validate your facility's food hygiene and cleaning procedures to prevent cross-contact, our food allergen testing program delivers actionable data for your Allergen Control Plan.

Scope note: Our PJLA ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation (Cert L26-535) includes Gluten/Gliadin by R5 Mendez ELISA (Veratox for Gliadin R5, SOP 041) — the method used for FDA Gluten-Free verification, on food products and environmental swabs — and this method is additionally recognized under the FDA LAAF program. The broader FDA Big 9 allergen panel and sulfites are offered as in-house non-accredited screening; ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited reporting for those analytes is available through our partner laboratory network when required.

The Food Allergen Testing Workflow

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for precise allergenic protein detection.

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01. Submission

Send 100g of finished product or environmental swabs. Double-bag samples to prevent cross-contamination during transit.

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02. Extraction

We extract the specific allergenic proteins (not DNA) from the food matrix using validated buffers.

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03. ELISA Analysis

Target proteins bind to specific antibodies, producing a color change proportional to the allergen concentration.

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04. Quantitative Report

Receive a quantitative report (in ppm) with full transparency on whether the result is accredited (gluten) or in-house screening.

Request an Allergen Test

Our Food Allergen Testing Services

Comprehensive screening for ingredients, finished products, and manufacturing surfaces.

Gluten verification by R5 Mendez ELISA for FDA Gluten-Free claim

ISO 17025 & FDA LAAF Accredited · FDA <20 ppm

Gluten-Free Verification

To label a product "Gluten-Free," the FDA requires it to contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Our Gluten/Gliadin analysis uses the R5 Mendez Method (Veratox for Gliadin R5, an AOAC-approved commercial kit) under SOP 041 to detect gluten from wheat, rye, and barley with a typical detection limit of 5 ppm well within the safe zone.

Hydrolyzed & Fermented Products: Standard sandwich ELISA can fail on fermented products like beer, soy sauce, or sourdough. We deploy specialized Competitive ELISA which detects broken-down gluten peptide fragments that standard sandwich kits miss.

✅ Gluten/Gliadin by R5 Mendez ELISA (SOP 041) is within our PJLA ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited scope (Cert L26-535) and is recognized under the FDA LAAF program, for food products and environmental swabs.

ELISA test plate for FDA Big 9 food allergen testing including Sesame

FASTER Act Compliance

The "Big 9" Allergen Screen

We screen for all major allergens mandated by US law using validated commercial ELISA kits. Quantitative data supports VITAL 3.0 risk assessment moving you beyond simple "Pass/Fail" reasoning. We're also experts in the FDA's specific definition of Tree Nuts, which includes Coconut a common compliance trap for manufacturers.

We Screen For:

Peanuts & Tree Nuts (Almond, Walnut, Cashew, Pecan)
Milk (Casein & Beta-Lactoglobulin)
Egg (Ovalbumin)
Soy, Wheat, Fish, Crustacean
Sesame (Newest FDA Requirement)

The Big 9 allergen panel (other than Gluten/Gliadin) is offered as validated in-house screening, outside the current PJLA accredited scope; accredited reporting is available through our partner network.

Cleaning Validation

Environmental Allergen Swabs

Preventing "Cross-Contact" is the heart of any Food Safety Plan. If you run allergenic (e.g., peanut) and non-allergenic lines in the same facility, you must validate that your sanitation actually works.

We provide environmental food allergen testing kits to sample equipment surfaces (mixers, conveyor belts, fillers). Swabs are analyzed to confirm that your "Clean-in-Place" (CIP) procedures effectively remove allergenic proteins down to the microgram level, supporting FSMA Preventive Controls expectations.

✅ Gluten/Gliadin environmental swabs are within our accredited scope (SOP 041, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 & FDA LAAF); swabs for other allergens are offered as in-house screening.

Detection Limits (LOQ)

Validated commercial ELISA kits with low-ppm sensitivity for trace allergenic proteins.

AGT Food Labs — Food Allergen Testing Detection Limits & Accreditation Scope (Cert L26-535)
Allergen	Method	Limit of Quantitation (LOQ)	Scope
Gluten (Gliadin)	R5 Mendez ELISA, SOP 041	5.0 ppm	✅ PJLA-Accredited (FDA LAAF)
Peanut	Quantitative ELISA	2.5 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner
Milk (Total)	Quantitative ELISA	2.5 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner
Egg	Quantitative ELISA	2.5 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner
Soy	Quantitative ELISA	2.5 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner
Almond / Walnut	Quantitative ELISA	2.5 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner
Sesame	Quantitative ELISA	5.0 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner
Sulfites	Optimized Monier-Williams	10.0 ppm	🤝 In-house / Partner

Gluten/Gliadin by R5 Mendez ELISA (SOP 041) is run in-house under our PJLA ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and is recognized under the FDA LAAF program. The remaining allergen and sulfite methods are commercial validated kits run as in-house non-accredited screening; where an accredited Certificate of Analysis is required for those analytes, results are issued through our accredited partner laboratory network.

Industries We Serve

Food allergen testing across every food and beverage vertical that carries an FDA "Free From" claim.

Bakery and cereal products gluten-free verification

Bakery & Cereals

Gluten and wheat verification for breads, fortified cereals, snack bars, and gluten-free bakery lines.

Snacks and confectionery allergen screening

Snacks & Confectionery

Peanut, tree nut, milk, and soy screening for chocolate, candy, granola bars, and savoury snacks where shared lines drive cross-contact risk.

Beverages

Gluten and milk-protein checks for craft beer, plant-based milks, RTD beverages, and protein shakes selling into "Free From" categories.

Dietary supplements and sports nutrition allergen verification

Dietary Supplements & Sports Nutrition

Soy, milk, peanut, and gluten verification for protein powders, capsules, and bars where allergen-free labelling is a core marketing claim.

Common Triggers for Food Allergen Testing

Most manufacturers commission food allergen testing when one of these business situations comes up.

🚀Pre-Launch Verification

A new SKU, recipe, or co-pack run is heading to market and you need a documented Big 9 baseline before printing labels and shipping.

🛒Retailer or Buyer Audit

A major retailer, food-service buyer, or private-label brand has requested third-party allergen verification as part of supplier qualification or annual surveillance.

🛡️FSMA Allergen Control Plan

Your written Food Safety Plan requires periodic verification of allergen-control preventive measures environmental swabs and finished-product checks both feed this evidence file.

⚠️Recall or Complaint Investigation

A consumer reaction, retailer complaint, or undeclared-allergen alert needs a fast quantitative answer to size the issue and scope a corrective action.

🌱"Free From" Certification

Programs like Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), Vegan, or Kosher require ongoing allergen evidence for renewal cycles.

🧼Cleaning Validation

A new piece of shared equipment or a CIP procedure change needs validation that protein removal works down to the microgram level before resuming production.

Regulatory Compliance

Meeting the strict allergen labeling laws of the United States.

📋FALCPA & FASTER Act

Our food allergen testing program covers all 9 major allergens defined by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act and the FASTER Act (which added Sesame in 2023).

🌾FDA Gluten-Free Rule

We verify compliance with 21 CFR 101.91 under our accredited SOP 041 method (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 & FDA LAAF), ensuring your product tests below the mandatory 20 ppm threshold required for "Gluten-Free" claims.

🛡️FSMA Preventive Controls

Our environmental swabbing program supports your written Allergen Control Plan, a key requirement for FSMA Preventive Controls audits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about allergen thresholds, testing methods, and accreditation scope.

Is AGT's food allergen testing PJLA-accredited?

Partly. Gluten/Gliadin by R5 Mendez ELISA (SOP 041) — the method used for FDA Gluten-Free verification — is within our PJLA ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation scope (Cert L26-535) and is additionally recognized under the FDA LAAF program, for both food products and environmental swabs. The broader FDA Big 9 allergen panel and sulfites are performed as in-house non-accredited screening; when you require an accredited Certificate of Analysis for those analytes — for retailer audits, customs documentation, or regulatory submissions — we coordinate testing with our accredited partner laboratory network at no extra coordination fee.

What are the "Big 9" Allergens?

The FDA mandates labeling for: 1. Milk, 2. Eggs, 3. Fish, 4. Crustacean Shellfish, 5. Tree Nuts, 6. Peanuts, 7. Wheat, 8. Soy, and 9. Sesame (added in 2023 under the FASTER Act).

Is Coconut considered a Tree Nut by the FDA?

Yes. Even though Coconut is botanically a fruit, the FDA classifies it as a Tree Nut for labeling purposes. It must be declared on food labels, and we include it in our Tree Nut screen on request.

Does a "May Contain" label protect me from testing?

Not entirely. "May Contain" (Precautionary Allergen Labeling) is voluntary and does not exempt you from Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). You still have a legal duty to prevent cross-contact. Testing validates that your controls are working, regardless of the label.

Why use ELISA instead of PCR?

Allergic reactions are caused by proteins, not DNA. ELISA detects the actual protein that causes the reaction. PCR detects DNA, which can persist even after the protein has been denatured, or be destroyed by heat while protein remains. ELISA is the gold standard for finished-product food allergen testing.

Verify Your "Free From" Claims.

Ensure your products are safe for allergic consumers with our quantitative food allergen testing program.

Request an Allergen Quote

Food Allergen Testing & Gluten-Free Verification