Will Novel Foods Cause Allergies?

Informing consumers about allergen risk is the cornerstone of food allergy safety. In the absence of a food allergy cure, labeling of problematic, already known food allergens is our primary method of preventing allergic reactions. For this reason, allergen labeling regulations are tightly controlled by regulators. Communicating likely risk from novel foods, especially those that cross-react to known allergens, is therefore a problem. How should one label the presence of insects that may cause reactions in shellfish allergic consumers? By law they cannot be labeled as shellfish because they are not. A mechanism by which food manufacturers may label an allergen risk from novel foods without falling afoul of regulatory agencies is clearly needed.

Yes, novel foods will cause allergy. All, or nearly all, foods—novel or not—cause allergy. Some novel foods pose more risk than others. It’s important to note that, just as with existing foods, the presence of an allergy risk does not preclude novel foods from having a place in our diet. Wheat, egg, and milk are all recognized allergens with a crucial place in nutrition.

We don’t want to introduce extremely allergenic foods into our food supply. Equally, we must acknowledge that all foods come with an element of risk. The use of scientific risk assessment to identify the most allergenic new foods, and the use of clear labeling to communicate risk for the rest, is a sensible approach. The potential importance of novel foods in addressing nutritional challenges cannot be overstated. As the novel food market grows, sensible regulation should minimize risk while allowing benefits for all.

Dr. Johnson is an assistant professor of food science and technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Reach him at [email protected]. Palmer is a graduate research assistant of food science and technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Reach him at [email protected]. Dr. Goodman is a research professor of food science and technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Reach him at [email protected].