Detection of bovine milk adulterated with cheese whey by Western blot immunoassay

• Published in: Food and agricultural immunology Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 265 - 272
• Main Authors: Chavez, Norma A, Salinas, Eva, Jauregui, Juan, Palomares, Laura A, Macias, Karla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.2008; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: adulterated products; Biological and medical sciences; cheese whey; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; General aspects; glycomacropeptide; Methods of analysis, processing and quality control, regulation, standards; milk; milk adulteration; milk analysis; peptides; polyclonal antibodies; Western blot; Western blotting; Western blot; Bovine; Antibody; milk adulteration; Dairy product; glycomacropeptide; Cheese; Whey; Immunological method; cheese whey; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Analysis method; Control method; Artiodactyla; Detection; Adulteration; Ungulata; Milk; polyclonal antibodies
• ISSN: 0954-0105; 1465-3443
• DOI: 10.1080/09540100802381042

Milk processor industries and distributors have problems of milk adulteration with cheese whey. The most frequently used method to detect cheese whey is the identification of a glycomacropeptide (GMP) which is present only in cheese whey but not in milk. At present, methods to detect GMP require major work and time, presenting problems of sensitivity and accuracy at low concentrations. We developed a novel western blot analysis for GMP detection, using anti-GMP polyclonal antibodies. This assay is easy, rapid, sensitive and specific and can detect 0.001% (w/v) GMP, 0.5% (v/v) liquid cheese whey and 0.001% w/v dehydrated cheese whey. Furthermore, it can be used successfully to detect GMP in various food matrices containing cheese whey.