Scientists are calling for a number of new foods to be added to the mandatory list of allergens on food labels following an alarming new study. The number of Brits diagnosed with food allergies has soared in recent years, with an increased amount of ingredients posing risk of deadly anaphylaxis. In the UK and EU, there are 14 common allergens that have to be listed.
These include peanuts, sesame and gluten. After a new analysis of nearly 3,000 cases, experts are now pushing for an additional 10 items to be added to the allergen list due to their potential for hidden exposure, frequency of diagnosis and severity of the reaction. These are: goat's and sheep's milk, buckwheat, peas, lentils, and pine nuts, kiwi, beehive products including wax, pollen and honey, apple and alpha-gal which is found in red meat such as beef.
Full list of food allergens which must be shown on labels:
These can cause anaphylaxis if the person is allergic to the item, which is a serious medical emergency, sometimes leading to fatality if not treated quickly.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include throat swelling, which can cause unconsciousness. An injection of adrenaline is often used as treatment for the reaction. This is often found in the form of an EpiPen which most people who suffer with a severe allergy carry around with them.
Researchers from the Allergy Vigilance Network found 413 cases of anaphylaxis caused by one of eight "emerging food allergens", which resulted in two deaths. This was identified in cases without mandatory labelling.
Professor Domonique Sabouraud-Leclerc, study co-author, said: "We believe it is time to review the list of 14 foods with mandatory labeling to include at least the most severe of these emerging food allergens."
They added: "Given the severity and recurrence of anaphylaxis, and the possible presence of the allergen in masked form, we propose that goat's and sheep's milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts be considered for inclusion in the European mandatory labelling of foods list."
