ILSI update on allergic reaction registries

A registry that records allergic reactions to food may provide crucial information for managing risks, measuring impact and establishing further priorities for allergen management practices in the food industry.

Members of the ILSI Food Allergy Task Force are working towards developing a European registry of severe allergic reactions. One of their first objectives in this task was to publish their findings following a review of existing registries.

The type and quality of data being collected in existing allergic reaction reporting systems was analysed in the ILSI Task Group and used to develop a plan for a pan-European registry. Analysis included the type of system used, the range of data entered and which people were able to enter and analyse such data. The information gained in the review will form the basis for a possible future EC-funded project submission.

The group maintain that surveillance of allergen reactions via a centralised pan-Europe registry may help to identify the emergence of new allergenic foods, and aid monitoring of novel foods, ingredients and technologies. It may help compile a clear indication of factors that may increase a patient's risk of having an adverse reaction, plus food businesses may use the registry to develop educational programmes for allergen risk assessment and allergen risk communication. Government agencies could use such a registry to gain population-based data which may be relevant for legislative purposes.

Reference: Worm et al. 2010. Allergy. Doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02332.x.