Overview
- A peer-reviewed analysis of 2,999 food-induced anaphylaxis cases (2002–2023) found eight foods not on the EU’s mandatory list accounted for 413 cases, or about 14%.
- Investigators propose adding four items—goat’s and sheep’s milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts—to mandatory labels based on frequency, severity, recurrence and hidden use.
- Goat and sheep milk products were linked to two deaths and showed the highest recurrence rate, reaching 56%, with many reactions tied to cheeses or undeclared ingredients.
- Other emerging triggers identified include alpha-gal (linked to red meat), kiwi, beehive products and apple, with researchers reporting some reactions occurring more often than to listed allergens such as mustard and sulphites.
- Advocacy groups including Allergy UK are calling for full ingredient labelling and a food anaphylaxis registry, while no regulatory change has been announced.