US FDA Takes New Steps in Evaluating Public Health Importance of Food Allergens

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has issued a draft guidance that, when finalized, it is going to be outlining the approach of the agency for the purpose of evaluating the public health importance of the food allergens that are not one of the large nine food allergens that has been identified by the law in the United States.

Currently, the major food allergens have been eggs, milk, fish, tree nuts, wheat and soybeans and crustacean shellfish, even though more than 160 foods are known for the purpose of causing the food allergic reactions and sesame becomes the 9^th major food allergen, which had been effective from 1^st January 2023.

Susan Mayne, director of Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition said, the nine major food allergens is not currently representing all the foods across the country that, the people have been allergic to, which also cause food hypersensitivities.

Susan Mayne also said, this draft guidance has been a part of the efforts of US FDA for the purpose of evaluating the emerging evidence about the other non-listed food allergens that can possibly cause serious reactions in a consistent and transparent manner, which can also inform the potential future actions for better helping them to protect the health of the consumers.

The food allergies and several other types of food hypersensitivities have been affecting millions of the people in the United States and also occurring when the immune system of the body that has been reacting for certain proteins in the food.