Scientists involved in developing better tests for food allergens have gathered at LGC to share the latest developments in tackling the growing problem of food allergy.
Headed by the Food and Health Network of the Institute of Food Research, or IFR's, prof Clare Mills, experts from LGC, research organisations, bioanalytical companies, food manufacturers and food-regulation authorities discussed the key issues that are being tackled.
These included preliminary outcomes from the 'Europrevall' study - said to be the largest ever study of its kind into the prevalence of food allergy, organised by IFR and involving 63 partner organisations in 23 countries.
The number of people affected by food allergy appears to be rising.
Food allergy can severely impact on the quality of life of allergic consumers and their families - something that the Europrevall study has been assessing.
The risk of death through anaphylaxis affects all aspects of allergic consumers' life and behaviour, as well presenting a significant challenge to society as a whole.
Regulators, the food industry and health-care systems must meet the significant public-health challenge posed by allergies.
The detection and measurement of allergens in food is fundamental to sound evidence for public-policy development and the success of regulatory and food-industry allergen-management strategies.
Opportunities for scientists to present the latest, most accurate, research - such as the recent meeting at the LGC - are therefore crucial, the group claims.
The meeting also addressed better standardisation of tests and explored developments to benefit consumers and all stakeholders in the management of allergen cross-contamination in food.
The future development of a reference material that can link clinical symptoms to analytical results would be another useful outcome, the group added.
The work discussed is being funded by the European Union (Europrevall, Moniqa) and the Food Standards Agency.
