Food intolerance or food allergy sufferers will welcome some new research that has come to light. Due to advances in biotechnology, Dutch scientists have been able to identify certain specific proteins and molecules in foods that induce allergic responses in susceptible people. These findings may lead in the future to the development of hypo-allergenic (or non-reactive) foods that willl have little side-effects for the hyper-sensitive individuals. This will be a welcome relief, I'm sure, to all the food-allergic people (especially the wheat, gluten, milk and nut-allergic), whose shopping trips or experiences eating out are anything BUT relaxing and enjoyable! It won't however be welcome news for the "free-from" food market, that has "exploded" in recent years! According to market analyst Mintel...
the free-from market has seen growth in sales of over 300% in the UK, since 2000. This area of food manufacturing has recognised and adapted to the growing needs of food allergic men, women and children. Mind you, genetic engineering is the only way this can become a reality, so the "GM-free" savvy companies are still onto a winner!
It is worth understanding here that food allergy and food intolerance are different - certainly in the context of these findings. Food allergy is defintiely caused by a food protein "culprit" and so if the protein isn't in the food - no allergic reaction. The underlying causes of food intolerance, however are numerous, and often not the "fault" of the food itself. Stress, infection, poor diet in general are just a few underlying factors that spring to mind! Allergen labelling regulations that are now in force require companies to label all pre-packed foods if they contain any of the 12 listed allergenic foods – a list which includes cereals containing gluten, peanut, soybean and sesame seeds, as well as milk protein, egg, wheat, etc.
E-mail me if you want my full article on Food Allergy and Intolerance!
Wow, this is nice! i would like to see your full article on Food Allergy and Intolerance!
-Keith
Posted by: nyc allergist | November 15, 2009 at 11:02 AM