Five-year review of UK allergy research program T07

In 1994, the UK Food Standards Authority established the Food Intolerance Research Program T07 with the aim of investigating the causes and mechanisms underlying food intolerance and food allergy. Their work has in recent years focused on severe food allergy, in particular peanut allergy, and a major aim is to identify risk factors associated with the development of food allergy.

Since it was established, T07 has evolved to include research into the prevalence of food allergy in the UK, plus research to review evidence on thresholds for sensitivity to gluten in the context of coeliac disease.

The Program is reviewed every 5 years. The most recent review was conducted in February this year to identify possible future research priorities and evaluate the results of program since the 2003 review. Preliminary reports indicate that on-going research within the Program will focus on the impact of route and timing of exposure to food allergens in the both the development and resolution of childhood allergies. In addition, like many allergy research programs, it will also remain focused on identifying thresholds for food allergens.

For more information about the previous research findings and current aims of this Program, visit: www.food.gov.uk/science/research/researchinfo/foodcomponentsresearch