Food Allergen Testing Lab in India

A single undeclared allergen on a packaged food label can put a sensitised consumer in hospital, trigger an FSSAI surveillance recall, and force a marketplace delisting. Auriga Research delivers NABL-accredited food allergen testing using ELISA and real-time PCR — the two reference techniques for allergen detection in finished products, raw ingredients, and environmental swabs.

Mandatory allergen labelling in India is governed by the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020, which require declaration of cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, and oats), crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk and milk products, tree nuts, and sulphites above 10 mg/kg. Our testing panel covers the full FSSAI priority list plus mustard, sesame, celery, and lupin where European or US export labelling requires it. We also run quantitative gluten by ELISA per AOAC 2012.01 against the 20 ppm gluten-free threshold and 100 ppm very-low-gluten threshold.

Backed by the Arbro Group's analytical heritage — Arbro Lab since 1990, Auriga Research since 2007 — with NABL ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, our reports are accepted by FSSAI licensing officers for label substantiation, by marketplaces verifying allergen-free claims at listing, and by export buyers requiring allergen-management evidence.

Allergen Testing Parameters

Each allergen is mapped to its validated method and detection limit — so QA, labelling, and HACCP teams can match scope to label claim at a glance.

Gluten

Gluten / Gliadin

Quantitative gluten by ELISA per AOAC 2012.01 (R5 antibody) — detection limit 3 ppm; supports the 20 ppm "gluten-free" labelling threshold and 100 ppm "very-low-gluten" claim. Wheat, rye, barley, and oats covered.

Peanut

Peanut Protein

Peanut protein by ELISA — detection limit 1 ppm; finished products, raw ingredients, and environmental swabs.

Soy

Soy Protein

Soy protein by ELISA — detection limit 1 ppm; especially critical for soy-free dairy alternatives and infant nutrition.

Milk

Milk Proteins

Casein and beta-lactoglobulin by ELISA — supports lactose-free and dairy-free claims; cross-contact verification on shared lines.

Egg

Egg Protein

Ovomucoid and ovalbumin by ELISA — bakery and confectionery cross-contact, egg-free claim substantiation.

Tree Nuts

Tree Nut Allergens

Almond, hazelnut, cashew, walnut, pecan, pistachio, macadamia, Brazil nut by ELISA and PCR — species-specific identification.

Shellfish

Crustacean & Fish

Crustacean (shrimp, prawn, crab, lobster) tropomyosin by ELISA. Fish parvalbumin by ELISA. PCR species identification on request.

Mustard

Mustard, Sesame, Celery, Lupin

Mustard, sesame, celery, and lupin allergens by ELISA / PCR per FSS Labelling & Display Regulations 2020 priority list.

Sulphites

Sulphites

Sulphur dioxide and sulphites by Monier-Williams distillation and ion chromatography — FSSAI 10 mg/kg declaration threshold.

Swabs

Environmental Swabs

Allergen cross-contact verification on processing lines, packaging equipment, and shared production areas — supports HACCP and allergen management plans.

Gluten-Free

Gluten-Free Claim Verification

Quantitative gluten determination against the 20 ppm "gluten-free" labelling threshold for products bearing claims on the FSSAI label.

PCR ID

Species Identification (PCR)

Real-time PCR DNA-based species identification — preferred for processed, hydrolysed, heat-treated, and fermented matrices where proteins are denatured.

How It Works

1

Get a Quote

Share your product type and the parameters you need tested. Your dedicated SPOC will confirm the testing scope, the applicable method, and the exact sample quantity required for your specific panel before you dispatch anything.

2

Send Your Sample

Dispatch your sample with a completed Test Request Form to the nearest Auriga lab. Each sample is individually bar coded and registered in YLIMS, Auriga's in-house Laboratory Information Management System, upon receipt. Testing begins within 24 hours of sample registration.

3

Testing and QA Review

Your sample is tested against the confirmed validated method by Auriga's scientific team. Every result passes through a formal internal QA review and sign-off before the report is generated.

4

Receive Your NABL Report

Your NABL-accredited test report is delivered digitally within the committed turnaround time. Reports carry Auriga's NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and are accepted by FSSAI, APEDA, EIC, and major international buyers. You can track your sample status in real time through YLIMS at any point in the process.

Turnaround Time

Panel Standard TAT Express
Single allergen by ELISA (gluten / peanut / soy / milk / egg) 5–7 business days Available
Single allergen by PCR (species identification) 7–10 business days On request
Multi-allergen screening panel (all FSSAI priority allergens) 10 business days On request
Gluten-free claim verification (quantitative, 20 ppm threshold) 5–7 business days Available
Environmental swab testing for cross-contact 5–7 business days Available
Sulphites / SO2 declaration verification 5–7 business days Available

Who Needs This Testing

  • Packaged food manufacturers with allergen-containing ingredients needing FSSAI label declaration and cross-contact verification on shared production lines.
  • D2C and e-commerce brands making allergen-free claims (gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free) that must be analytically substantiated before listing on Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Zepto, and BigBasket.
  • Importers verifying that imported packaged food meets FSSAI labelling compliance under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020 before customs clearance.
  • Food service and hospitality chains (QSR, hotels, cafes, cloud kitchens) verifying ingredient declarations and supplier allergen control.
  • Bakery and confectionery manufacturers managing cross-contact risk between wheat, egg, milk, peanut, and tree nut lines.
  • Infant formula, sports nutrition, and health drink brands where undeclared allergens carry the highest consumer-safety risk.
  • HACCP and food safety teams running periodic allergen swab verification on cleaning and changeover procedures.
  • Brands contesting a marketplace delisting or an FSSAI surveillance finding on an allergen-labelling claim.

Why Auriga for Food Allergen Testing

NABL-accredited ELISA and PCR in-house

Both reference allergen techniques on the same platform — quantitative ELISA for gluten and major protein allergens, real-time PCR for species identification in processed and hydrolysed matrices.

FSS (Labelling & Display) Regulations 2020 compliance

Reports map directly to the FSSAI priority allergen list and sulphite 10 mg/kg declaration threshold — accepted for licence applications, product approvals, and surveillance responses.

FSSAI-approved laboratory

Reports carry evidentiary weight under the FSS Act 2006 with State Food Safety Officers, designated officers, and food analysts in adjudication and appeal proceedings.

Gluten-free claim substantiation

Quantitative gluten by AOAC 2012.01 against the 20 ppm gluten-free threshold and 100 ppm very-low-gluten threshold — required to defend on-label claims.

Environmental swab + HACCP support

Cross-contact verification on processing lines, packaging equipment, and shared production areas to support allergen management plans and cleaning validation.

Arbro Group analytical heritage

Established analytical heritage through the Arbro Group (Arbro Lab since 1990, Auriga Research since 2007), with NABL ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation — the audit trail FSSAI, marketplaces, and international buyers look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which food allergens does FSSAI require to be declared on labels?
FSSAI mandates declaration of cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats), crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk and milk products (including lactose), tree nuts, and sulphites above 10 mg/kg. These align broadly with Codex Alimentarius priority allergens. The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020 require both ingredient-list allergen declaration and precautionary "may contain" / "made in a facility that handles" statements where cross-contact risk applies.
What methods are used for food allergen testing?
The two primary methods are ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and real-time PCR. ELISA detects allergenic proteins directly and is preferred for quantitative results — particularly for gluten where the regulatory 20 ppm "gluten-free" threshold requires a quantitative claim. PCR detects DNA from allergenic species, which is more suitable for highly processed foods where proteins may be denatured (e.g., hydrolysed proteins, heat-treated baked goods, and fermented products). Both methods achieve detection limits in the low ppm range. Method selection depends on the food matrix, the target allergen, and the level of processing.
How long does food allergen testing take?
Standard ELISA-based allergen testing takes 5-7 business days. PCR-based allergen detection takes 7-10 business days. Multi-allergen screening panels covering all major allergens are completed within 10 business days. Environmental swab testing for allergen cross-contact verification is completed in 5-7 business days. Rush services are available for urgent production-hold situations.

Get Your Food Allergen Testing Quote

NABL-accredited allergen detection by ELISA and PCR. FSS (Labelling & Display) Regulations 2020 compliance for all FSSAI priority allergens.

Call Now Get a Quote

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