Have you registered for the 2008 Allergen Bureau Conferences in Brisbane (12th February) or Sydney (26th February)? If not, do it now! You can register on-line by going to the website of our conference conveners, Advancing Food Safety www.haccptown.com.au/Allergen/AllergenHome.htm.

A big welcome to Fonterra who have recently become our newest Allergen Bureau Member Company by signing up for the 2008 Membership Year, which starts on 1 April 2008.

With so many Membership Benefits on offer, isn’t it time you Joined Us too?

The UK Food Standards Agency has published new allergen management guidance targeted at businesses selling food that is not packaged, such as restaurants, cafés, deli counters, sandwich bars and bakeries.

The following is a short review of research recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine:
Vadas et al, "Platelet-Activating Factor, PAF Acetylhydrolase, and Severe Anaphylaxis" NEJM Vol. 358:28-35 January, 2008 Number 1. For further information about this study, please contact the Allergen Bureau.

Current prophylactic feeding guidelines recommend a delayed introduction of solids for the prevention of atopic diseases. A recently-published study investigated whether such a delay (past 4 or 6 months) is protective against the development of eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food or inhalant sensitization at the age of 6 years.

Beijing 12-13 September 2007

The following article is adapted from a report kindly provided by Donna Kippax at FACTA Australia. Rob Sherlock from FACTA Australia was a speaker at the conference, and presented on allergens and allergen management. View the official CIFSQ 2007 conference report.