FACTA Australia has recently achieved NATA accredited status for gluten testing using the Ridascreen Gliadin test kit, which has Codex approval. This status allows the addition of the NATA symbol to relevant test reports, demonstrating the tests have been conducted in accordance with a prescribed quality management system.

The European Council plans to revise the EU Novel Food Regulation to bring it up to date and clarify the scope. However, the UK’s Food Standards Authority (FSA) has expressed concern that revisions currently being considered fail to take proper account of potential allergic responses to some novel foods.

Researchers at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center are currently conducting a feeding trial on peanut- and egg-allergic people. By increasing doses of protein extract from the foods, they aim to see if they can induce the participants' immune systems to tolerate the food.

Allergen Bureau Member Company, Peanut Company of Australia (PCA) continues to work closely with national and international scientists and food management associations to develop and test methods of lessening and managing allergic reactions to peanuts. As part of their service to the industry and community, they issue a regular fact sheet on recent peanut allergy research.

One of the world's largest food manufacturers, General Mills has recently signalled their intention to join the lucrative ‘gluten free’ food market, by reformulating their Rice Chex cereal in the USA and making it gluten free.

A new article by a number of local allergy specialists was recently published in the New Zealand Medical Journal. It summarises the epidemiological data on food allergy and discusses the implications for New Zealand. The article’s authors maintain the current lack of reliable food allergy prevalence data in New Zealand means that many food allergy sufferers are missing out on hospital services. In addition, this lack of data has a significant effect on the ability to build a case to lobby Pharmac to fund adrenaline auto-injectors.