World's biggest allergy study

The University of Manchester (Manchester, UK) has announced the start of the world’s biggest allergy study. Eurofins (Brussels, Belgium) is one of the main industry laboratory participants in the four-year study sponsored by the European Commission. Eurofins were selected following validation of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) for this type of research.

The project has attracted funding of 9 million euros, advancing on an earlier 14.3 million euro research study. Researchers from across Europe, Australia and the US are taking part in the European Commission-sponsored research known as the Integrated Approaches to Food Allergen and Allergy Risk Management (IFAAM) to formulate a standardized management process for companies involved in food manufacturing.

Professor Clare Mills of the Allergy and Respiratory Centre of The University of Manchester’s Institute of Inflammation and Repair will head-up the study. Mills said, “This is a massive research project which will have far-reaching consequences for consumers and food producers. The evidence base and tools that result from this will support more transparent precautionary ‘may contain’ labelling of allergens in foods which will make life easier for allergy sufferers as they try to avoid problem foods.”

For more information please visit:

www.eurofins.com

This story originally appeared in The Column. Click here to view that issue.