Improving the assessment and management of food allergen risks to protect people with food allergies
Task Force Information
Objectives
The Task Force aims at fostering an international evidence-based consensus on how to assess the risk from allergenic foods. Once identified the agreed method, the Task Force envisage developing tools to help manage the risks and protect all consumers.
Task Force Members
Simon Flanagan – Chair | Mondelēz International | Head of Speciality Analysis & Food Allergen Services | UK |
Neil Buck | General Mills | Global Toxicology and Ecotoxicology Expert | CH |
René Crevel - Interim Chair | René Crevel Consulting | Director at René Crevel Consulting | UK |
Stef Koppelman* | University of Nebraska | Courtesy professor (adjunct faculty) | US |
Federica Cattapan | Merieux NutriSciences | R&D Manager | IT |
Fleur de Mooij | Danone Nutricia Research | European Registered Toxicologist | NL |
Myrthe van den Dungen | DSM | Toxicologist | NL |
Si Wang | PepsiCo International | Senior Scientist | UK |
Geraldine Borja | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
* Scientific Advisors
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Geraldine Borja at gborja@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Ongoing
- Allergen Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA): The Development and Integration of Methodology to Link Emerging Tools with Risk Management Actions across the Supply Chain, including Precautionary Labelling
The expert group identified the methodological aspects that should be applied to allergen risk assessment within complex supply chains in real food production situations. The current focus of
the group is to create a Community of Practice (CoP) and a user-friendly guideline to assist various stakeholders in implementing QRA.
Start date: June 2023 | End date: December 2024
- Allergenicity Assessment of New Protein-Containing Sources and Ingredients
The activity aims to facilitate the introduction of novel protein sources by promoting the tools for clearer
regulatory environment, supported by better alignment between scientific test methodologies and risk management objectives. The current focus of the group is to disseminate their findings at events and developing webinars.
Start date: November 2019 | End date: July 2024
In the pipeline
- Effective regulation of precautionary allergen labelling (PAL)
The Expert Group will adopt a multi-stakeholder approach, involving Regulators, Food Business Operators, Health Care Practitioners, and Patient Support Groups. Its primary objective will be to identify gaps hindering the effective regulation of PAL and ultimately determine the necessary actions and levers required to address these barriers and gaps. The goal is to establish a more uniform approach to decisions regarding PAL.
Expert Groups
Allergen Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA): The Development and Integration of Methodology to Link Emerging Tools with Risk Management Actions across the Supply Chain, including Precautionary Labelling
Background and Objectives
There is a global and increasing interest in integrating risk assessment as a part of allergen management, including it in decisions on precautionary allergen labelling (PAL). This project aims to define consensus on the methodologies needed for quantitative risk assessment. The consensual approach will better protect public health and improve the trust of allergic consumers in packaged foods by including the labelling in this approach.
Output
After the publication of the practical guidance (Black and White Report) on QRA in 2022, the EG is further disseminating this document at different events and providing trainings. Furthermore, the group is launching a Community of Practice and plans to develop a userfriendly document that can help different stakeholders understand how to apply the QRA guidance.
Expert Group Members
Michael Walker – Co-Chair | Laboratory of theGovernment Chemist (LGC) | Honorary Professor | UK |
Joseph Baumert | University of Nebraska (FARRP) | Professor | US |
Neil Buck | General Mills | Corporate Toxicologist | CH |
René Crevel | René Crevel Consulting | Director at René Crevel Consulting | UK |
Simon Flanagan | Mondelēz International | Head of Speciality Analysis & Food Allergen Services | UK |
Bushra Javed | University of Manchester | Researcher | UK |
Myrthe van den Dungen | DSM | Toxicologist | NL |
Si Wang | PepsiCo International | Senior Scientist | UK |
Geraldine Borja | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Allergenicity Assessment of New Protein-Containing Sources and Ingredients
Background and Objectives
The introduction of novel food products could expose the population to new dietary proteins. Assessing the potential allergenicity of these proteins is essential to their safe introduction, but remains a challenge.The activity is focusing on establishing the way different types of methodologies can be deployed to achieve a quantitative or semi-quantitative assessment of the risk posed by protein sources. The recently developed Adverse Outcome Pathway, for IgE-mediated sensitisation in particular, is considered.
Output
The aim of this activity is to facilitate the introduction of novel protein sources by promoting the tools for a clearer regulatory environment, supported by better alignment between scientific test methodologies and risk management objectives. The outcome of the Expert Group could be a toolbox for all involved in the risk assessment process for novel foods and ingredients, and should include how best to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders.
Expert Group Members
René Crevel | René Crevel Consulting | Director at René Crevel Consulting | UK |
Harry Wichers – Co-Chair | Wageningen University | Professor | NL |
Neil Buck | General Mills | Corporate Toxicologist | CH |
Aouatif Chentouf | Roquette Group | Global Toxicology and Ecotoxicology Expert | FR |
Simon Flanagan | Mondelēz International | Head of Speciality Analysis & Food Allergen Services | UK |
Melina Galano | DSM | Senior Regulatory Toxicologist | NL |
Jossie Garthoff | Danone Nutricia Research | Food Safety Scientific Affairs Project Leader | NL |
Stéphane Hazebrouck | UMR CEA-INRA | Researcher | FR |
Geert Houben | The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research – TNO | Principal Scientist | NL |
Bushra Javed | University of Manchester | Researcher | UK |
Karin Hoffmann-Sommergruber | Medical University of Vienna | Group Leader, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research | AT |
Chiara Nitride | University of Naples "Federico II" | Researcher | IT |
Ross Yarham | Indoor Biotechnologies | Research Associate/Research Group Manager | UK |
Geraldine Borja | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Publications
All Publications
Criteria for Identifying Allergenic Foods of Public Health Importance
2008
Food Allergy
2003
ILSI Europe Concise Monograph.
Can We Determine a Threshold Level for Allergenic Foods by Statistical Analysis of Published Data in the Literature? Statistical Models for Food Allergenicity Testing
2002
Allergy. 2002;57(8):741-746.