NEWS, WEBINARS, & MORE

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a new draft guidance on allergenicity testing of genetically modified (GM) plants and is permitting interested parties to comment on the guidance until September 25, 2016[1].  The draft guidance reflects new methodologies that could be applied in allergenicity assessment and recent EU legislation on GM food which mandates inclusion of analyses for certain allergens in the compositional analysis of genetically modified crops

In June 2015, the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) issued a guidance document which describes data requirements for petitions and notifications seeking exemption from labeling for the major food allergens (FDA, 2015a). The purpose of this article is to inform readers about the main points covered in the guidance document, to help them submit the correct document with the necessary steps completed. Although FDA guidance documents “do not establish leg

Millions of Americans have allergic reactions to food every year. While most food allergies cause relatively mild and minor symptoms, some food allergies may provoke reactions that are life-threatening. There is no cure for food allergies, so strict avoidance of food allergens is an important measure to prevent serious health consequences. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for the safety of the food supply for Americans, including those consumers with food

Food allergy is a disease2 with a considerable impact on modern society. More than half of all Americans test positive in response to one or more allergens3 — double the percentage of 30 years ago. The highest response was to dust mites, 27.5%, while the lowest was to peanuts, 8.6%. (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, August 2005). Food allergies affect 6 to 7 million individuals4 in the United States (2 to 2.5%). According to the Louisiana State University Pediatric

Beginning January 1, 2006, FALCPA will require labeling of any ingredient that is one or is derived from: milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, or soybeans. Key points: Includes product cross-contact and flavorings, colorings, incidental additives, and packaging. Requires declaration of the specific type of nut (g., almonds, pecans, or walnuts), the species of fish (e.g., bass, flounder, or cod), and the kind of crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lo

Calorie counting may not be the only reason some people read ingredient labels on the foods they buy. More and more Americans are becoming allergic to foods and food ingredients. A food allergy, or hypersensitivity, is an abnormal immune response to a food or food ingredient. According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, 1 in 25 American children are reported to have a food allergy, with an estimated 3 million school-aged children having a known food allergy or multipl

A new, highly sensitive test that detects even the tiniest amount of peanut in processed food may be a relief for the people who are allergic to peanuts. This new test can distinguish peanuts from other nuts and detects minuscule traces of peanut DNA in food products. It may help food manufacturers tell customers if their products contain even a few parts per million of peanut. Allergy to peanuts usually begins during the early part of life and rarely goes away. A peanut alle