Nearly 15 million people are affected by food allergies in the United States, alone; and current global trends show that this number of individuals is increasing, particularly in developed countries. A committee of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine was charged with examining critical issues related to food allergy, including: (1) the prevalence and severity of food allergies in the United States and globally and its impact on affected individuals, families, and communities; (2) current understanding of food allergies as a disease; and (3) in diagnostics, treatments, prevention, and public policy. This consensus study engaged a broad array of stakeholders, including government agencies, organizations, academic institutions, industries, policy makers, and patient organization groups, in addition to bringing together leading investigators from relevant fields, clinicians, and parents to engage in review of the issues surrounding food allergies. 

This symposium, first, highlights briefly, the committee’s recommendations (not regulations) for future directions in several key areas: steps to increase public awareness of food allergy; promoting research on both disease causation and management; informing preventive approaches to food allergies; and identifying research gaps and making recommendations to fill them.  Secondly, the symposium will expand on the findings and recommendations of the committee in the area of food allergy prevention. Finally, the symposium will describe what are the food scenarios and settings with the highest risks and management approaches. The last presentation will convey findings and recommendations related to the status of assessing allergen thresholds in individuals, reference doses, and their use in labeling and management of food allergies.

Presentations