Analysis of trends and allergenicity risk assessments in novel food approvals within the European Union between 2018 and 2023.

Novel food (NF) approvals in the European Union between 2018 and 2023 (n = 117) were retrieved and analysed. They consist of new NF (52.1%), modification (38.

Symptoms at population Eliciting Doses ≤ED05 for 11 priority allergenic foods are mild to moderate.

Insight into symptoms at low doses of protein from priority allergenic foods may support decision making and acceptance of harmonized reference doses for Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL). Symptoms were extracted from double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges underlying the full range Eliciting Dose (ED) distributions (Houben et al., 2020).

Allergenicity assessment of new or modified protein-containing food sources and ingredients.

The growing world population, changing dietary habits, and increasing pressure on agricultural resources are drivers for the development of novel foods (including new protein sources as well as existing protein sources that are produced or used in an alternative way or in a different concentration). These changes, coupled with consumer inclination to adopt new dietary trends, may heighten the intake of unfamiliar proteins, or escalate consumption of specific ones, potentially amplifying the prevalence of known and undiscovered food allergies. Assessing the allergenicity of novel or modified protein-based foods encounters several challenges, including uncertainty surrounding acceptable risks and assessment criteria for determining safety.

Nitrate-induced mobilization of trace elements in reduced groundwater environments.

Groundwater is an essential source for drinking water production. Nitrate infiltration into groundwater due to over-fertilization can cause a potential risk for groundwater quality. Pyrite and other geogenic minerals can be oxidized and trace metals consequently released into water, e.

New Insights into the Formation and Properties of Wellbore Skin: Why We Have to Rethink the Concept.

The deposition of fine-grained material of low permeability on the borehole wall during drilling (wellbore skin) is a common problem affecting the operation and efficiency of water wells. Here, we present new data and novel insights from four excavated dewatering wells from a lignite surface mine. All wells have the same age, are of similar construction, and were sampled at two different depths each.

Approximation of van Genuchten Parameter Ranges from Hydraulic Conductivity Data.

The use of retention function and relative conductivity function is essential for the calculation of flow in a variably saturated media using the Richards equation. A widely used mathematical model for this is the Mualem-van Genuchten model which requires the shape parameters and . These, however, are difficult to obtain.

The 50th percentile of the general population single eating occasion intake of food is optimal for the calculation of action levels for precautionary allergen labelling.

Lack of guidance regarding selection of food intake values for allergen risk assessment can lead to different outcomes for similar levels of allergens in food products. Several food consumption survey databases (United States, North-West Europe, and Netherlands) were analyzed to identify optimal food intake percentiles using a sensitivity analysis. Deterministic risk assessment scenarios using the 50th percentile up to the maximum intake per food group were compared with probabilistic risk assessment outcomes.

Co-sensitization between legumes is frequently seen, but variable and not always clinically relevant.

Background: Food allergy to peanut and soybean, both legumes, is highly prevalent. The consumption of other legumes and legume protein isolates, some of which may be considered novel foods, is increasing. This may lead to an increase in sensitization and allergy and may pose a risk for legume-allergic (e.

Accidental allergic reactions to food in adolescents and adults: An overview of the factors involved and implications for prevention.

Accidental allergic reactions to food are one of the major problems in adult patients diagnosed with food allergy. Such reactions occur frequently, are often severe and are associated with higher medical and non-medical costs. The aim of this Perspective is to provide insight into the different factors involved in the occurrence of accidental allergic reactions and to present an overview of practical implications for effective preventive measures.

Estimating Characteristic Grain Sizes and Effective Porosity from Hydraulic Conductivity Data.

In groundwater applications, knowledge about a range of hydraulically relevant parameters is beneficial to counteract data scarcity and enhance parameter robustness. The present study provides a novel procedure to reverse engineer representative grain diameters and effective porosity from values of hydraulic conductivity. A large data set comprising more than 500 sieve curves and more than 1000 values of hydraulic conductivity was analyzed for interparameter dependencies between characteristic grain sizes, hydraulic conductivity and effective porosity.

Reproducibility of food challenge to cow's milk: Systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Cow's milk (CM) is an increasingly common cause of severe allergic reactions, but there is uncertainty with respect to severity of reactions at low-level CM exposure, as well as the reproducibility of reaction thresholds.

Objective: We undertook an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of studies reporting double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges in CM to determine the rate of anaphylaxis to low-level exposures and the reproducibility of reaction thresholds.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and IPD meta-analysis of studies reporting relevant data.

Low dietary adherence after a positive food challenge in food allergic adults.

Background: After a positive food challenge (FC), patients receive dietary advice regarding avoidance of the culprit food. We examined the frequency and variables associated with dietary adherence after a positive FC in adults.

Methods: In this prospective daily practice study, adults with a positive FC were included.

Poor understanding of allergen labelling by allergic and non-allergic consumers.

Background: Understanding consumers' interpretation of allergy information is crucial for effective food safety policies. We evaluated consumer understanding of allergy information on foods in controlled, experimental studies.

Method: Using 18 packaged foods, we evaluated consumer understanding of information about allergens in two experiments: First, a comparison of foods with no stated allergen versus allergen as a stated ingredient versus a precautionary allergen label (PAL); second, a comparison of three common variants of PAL.

Ranking of 10 legumes according to the prevalence of sensitization as a parameter to characterize allergenic proteins.

Predicting the allergenicity of novel proteins is challenging due to the absence of validated predictive methods and a well-defined reference set of proteins. The prevalence of sensitization could be a parameter to select reference proteins to characterize allergenic proteins. This study investigated whether the prevalence of sensitization of legume extracts and proteins can indeed be used for this purpose.

Predicting the allergenicity of legume proteins using a PBMC gene expression assay.

Background: Food proteins differ in their allergenic potential. Currently, there is no predictive and validated bio-assay to evaluate the allergenicity of novel food proteins. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of a human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression assay to identify biomarkers to predict the allergenicity of legume proteins.

A systematic comparison of food intake data of the United States and the Netherlands for food allergen risk assessment.

National population-based food consumption surveys are used in food allergen risk assessment. It would be beneficial if food intake data is interchangeable between countries to bridge potential gaps present in national survey data, which is only possible when risk assessment outcomes for comparable food product groups between countries are fairly similar. Additionally, merged food intake data would enable risk assessments that cover scenarios for various countries, if based on the most critical situation.

Allergen labelling: Current practice and improvement from a communication perspective.

Background: Allergen information on product labels is crucial in food allergy management, though inadequacy in current labelling practices is one of the major causes for accidental reactions upon consuming prepacked food products.

Objective: This study analyses current status of communicating allergen information on food labels and provides practical recommendations for improving the label format based on communication theory.

Methods: Product labels (N 288) of seven food categories from private label products and brands were obtained at three retailers in the Netherlands.

Digestion and Transport across the Intestinal Epithelium Affects the Allergenicity of Ara h 1 and 3 but Not of Ara h 2 and 6.

Scope: No accepted and validated methods are currently available which can accurately predict protein allergenicity. In this study, the role of digestion and transport on protein allergenicity is investigated.

Methods And Results: Peanut allergens (Ara h 1, 2, 3, and 6) and a milk allergen (β-lactoglobulin) are transported across pig intestinal epithelium using the InTESTine model and afterward basophil activation is measured to assess the (remaining) functional properties.

Full range of population Eliciting Dose values for 14 priority allergenic foods and recommendations for use in risk characterization.

Previously, we published selected Eliciting Dose (ED) values (i.e. ED01 and ED05 values) for 14 allergenic foods, predicted to elicit objective allergic symptoms in 1% and 5%, respectively, of the allergic population (Remington et al.