Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an effective method for detecting toxic and harmful substances in food. With people’s increasing attention to food safety, this method has been widely used in food production and testing. This article will introduce the application and advantages of ELISA in food safety testing.

1.The Working Principle of ELISA

ELISA is an immunological diagnostic method based on the principle of antibody antigen interaction. In ELISA detection, the sample to be tested is first added to a microplate covered with known antibodies, and then a colorant is added to the well. If the sample contains an antigen, the antigen will react with the antibody fixed at the bottom of the well, and the colorant will also react with the antigen to develop color. If the sample does not contain antigens, there will be no color reaction. Determine the presence of target substances by detecting changes in sample color.

2. Application of ELISA in Food Safety Testing

1) Detecting allergens in food: ELISA can detect allergens in food, such as chicken protein, peanuts, milk, soybeans, etc. These substances may cause allergic reactions in many people, and ELISA can detect these substances very accurately in a short period of time.
2) Understand the residues of aquaculture drugs in food: ELISA can effectively detect the residual amount of culturing or breeding drugs in food, such as sulfonamides, penicillins, etc. The detection results are accurate and sensitive. At the same time, ELISA has a short detection time and can obtain results in a very short period of time.
3) Detection of pathogenic bacteria in food: ELISA can detect pathogenic bacteria in food, such as Salmonella, Listeria, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus, etc. These bacteria grow and reproduce in food, which can have a significant impact on human health. ELISA can detect the presence of these pathogenic bacteria in food in a short period of time, enabling timely measures to be taken.
4) Detection of toxic and harmful substances in food: ELISA can detect toxic and harmful substances in food, such as aflatoxin, melamine, etc. These substances may pose a serious threat to human health. ELISA can effectively detect these substances to ensure people’s health.

3. The Advantages of ELISA in Food Testing

1) Fastness: ELISA detection is fast and can be completed in a short period of time.
2) High sensitivity: ELISA has high sensitivity and can detect very small amounts of substances.
3) High accuracy: ELISA detection results are accurate and reliable.
4) Economical: The ELISA detection kit is not expensive, and it is easy to operate without the need for complex instruments and equipment.
5) Diversity: ELISA can be applied to detect substances in various foods with high diversity.