A Targeted LC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Detection and Quantitation of Egg, Milk, and Peanut Allergens in Sugar Cookies

Food allergy is a growing public health concern, with many individuals reporting allergies to multiple food sources. Compliance with food labeling regulations and prevention of inadvertent cross-contact in manufacturing requires the use of reliable methods for the detection and quantitation of allergens in processed foods. In this work, a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multiple-reaction monitoring method for multiallergen detection and quantitation of egg, milk, and peanut was developed and evaluated in an allergen-incurred baked sugar cookie matrix. A systematic evaluation of method parameters, including sample extraction, concentration, and digestion, were optimized for candidate allergen peptide markers. The optimized method enabled the reliable detection and quantitation of egg, milk, and peanut allergens in sugar cookies, with allergen concentrations as low as 5 ppm allergen incurred ingredient.