Allergy and intolerance research review report published

The Food Standards Agency has today published a report of the food allergy and intolerance programme review that took place in February 2008.

As part of its research programme, the Agency allocates funding of about £1 million each year, to fundamental, applied, clinical and social research on different aspects of food allergy and intolerance. This contributes to the evidence from which the Agency makes policy decisions and gives advice.

The aims of the programme include investigating how many people have food allergy or intolerance and identifying what might make you develop an allergy or intolerance.

The purpose of the review was to evaluate the projects that have made up the food allergy and intolerance programme since the previous review in 2003, in terms of their scientific quality, relevance to Agency policy needs and value for money. It also determines if these projects addressed the aims and objectives of the programme. The review also aimed to consider the future direction of the programme and priority areas for Agency research in food allergy and intolerance over the next five years.

Professor Peter Aggett, Chair of the Food Allergy and Intolerance Programme Review meeting, said: 'This was a very productive exercise. The programme review panel critically appraised the conduct and outcomes of completed and current projects in the programme. It was agreed that overall the programme had produced significant new knowledge and had identified further key research needs in areas related to food allergy, its causes and its impact on food safety and public health.’