Low allergy peanuts revolution
11 Jun 10
Allergy sufferers may have good news in the form of a newly created "low allergy" peanut, it has been revealed.
Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture are developing allergen-free naturally grown peanuts without any genetic modification.
Depending on the success of the study, the new peanuts could be introduced in supermarkets, restaurants and as an ingredient in food products to reduce the risk of allergies among sufferers.
The research team, led by Professor Soheila Maleki, presented their findings at a European allergy conference in London.
Prof Maleki said the principle used in the new nut can be applied to create an anti-allergy vaccine, though she highlighted the need for further research in the area.
She hopes to have a successful production of low-allergy peanuts going in the next two to five years.
The team has been developing peanuts without two of the major allergy-causing proteins. They have also identified peanuts without a third key allergen, which could soon be added to the new peanuts.
Prof Maleki said not only were some varieties of peanuts missing allergens, but these allergens failed to bind to antibodies in the human body which produce an allergic reaction.
This means varieties could be produced that are missing allergens with antibody-binding properties.
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