News
28-July 2010 – Food
allergy scientists meet at LGC
Scientists, food industry and regulators focus on helping
food allergic consumers
Scientists from the Food and Health Network of
the Institute of Food Research (IFR) involved
in developing better tests for food allergens gathered recently at
LGC, an international science-based company and recognised market
leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and
reference materials, to share the latest developments in tackling
the growing problem of food allergy.
Headed by IFR’s Professor
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, 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 crucial to 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 LGC, are therefore crucial.
Prof Mills said “The
EuroPrevall study, which will be reported in a series of papers
over the next year, will add greatly to our knowledge of the
prevalence and distribution of food allergy. LGC and IFR are at the
forefront of analytical measurement in this key area of public
health and we hope the dedicated work of all the participants in
the meeting will mean safer and more convenient lives for food
allergy sufferers.”
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 work discussed is being
funded by the European Union (EuroPrevall, MoniQa) and the
Food Standards Agency.
- Ends -
Notes to editors
A high resolution photograph of Professor Clare Mills is
available. Contact: deborah.gaskell@lgc.co.uk.
About
EuroPrevall
EuroPrevall is a multi-disciplinary
research project looking at 'The prevalence cost and basis of food
allergy in Europe. The project started in June 2005 and comes to an
end in December 2009 although many of the publications arising from
the project will still be in the process of being prepared.
EuroPrevall has been funded by the European Union and is the
largest ever project on food allergy funded by the EU with a budget
of over €14m. The project has been coordinated by Clare Mills at
the Institute of Food Research in the UK and has 67 member
organisations in 24 countries with over 250 personnel contributing
to the project. The partners are primarily based in Europe with 17
European member states involved represented in the project but
there are also partners from Siberia, India and China, giving the
project a global spectrum of cultures, eating habits, and
environments.