Food allergies are no small matter—just ask anyone who’s ever scanned a label in search of hidden threats or rushed a loved one to the emergency room after a sudden reaction. Now, a new wave of research is calling for urgent changes to the way food allergens are labelled in the UK and EU, with experts warning that some overlooked foods are putting lives at risk.
According to a sweeping study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy, researchers analyzed nearly 3,000 cases of food-induced anaphylaxis reported to the Allergy Vigilance Network in France from 2002 to 2023. Their findings, echoed across outlets such as BBC, Just Food, and The Independent, are sobering: 413 of these severe allergic reactions were caused by eight emerging allergens that aren’t currently required to be highlighted on food packaging. Tragically, two of those cases resulted in death.
So which foods are flying under the radar? The study’s lead investigator, Dr. Dominique Sabouraud-Leclerc, didn’t mince words: “We therefore believe it is time to review the list of the 14 foods with mandatory labelling to include at least the most severe of these emerging food allergens.” The research team singled out four foods in particular—goat and sheep milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts—for immediate addition to the list of allergens that must be clearly declared on packaging. Their rationale? These foods stood out for their frequency, severity, recurrence, and the potential for hidden exposure.
For those unfamiliar, anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can strike within minutes. Symptoms often include swelling of the throat and tongue, difficulty breathing, and fainting. The recurrence rate of allergic reactions to these emerging foods ranged from 7.3% for peas and lentils to a striking 56% for goat and sheep milk—meaning more than half of patients with an allergy to the latter experienced repeated reactions. That’s hardly a risk anyone would want to take lightly.
Beyond these four, the study flagged other ingredients that deserve caution: kiwi, apple, beehive products (like pollen and honey), and alpha-gal—a sugar molecule found in red meat such as beef and lamb. Alpha-gal is particularly notorious for causing delayed allergic reactions, sometimes hours after eating.
Current regulations in the UK and EU require food businesses to highlight 14 major allergens on packaging. These include celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, and tree nuts (think almonds, walnuts, cashews, and the like). But as the food landscape evolves—with new ingredients and processed foods appearing on shelves—experts warn that the list is no longer sufficient.
The data paints a clear picture. As Just Food reports, the 413 cases tied to the eight emerging allergens accounted for at least 1% of all food anaphylaxis incidents reviewed. In children, peanuts remain the most common culprit, followed by cow’s milk, cashew, hen’s eggs, and hazelnut. For adults, the top triggers are wheat flour, shellfish, hazelnut, and soy. Yet the rise in cases linked to goat and sheep milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts suggests a shifting risk profile—one that’s not being addressed by current labelling laws.
Simone Miles, chief executive at Allergy UK, has been vocal about the need for change. “We are calling for full ingredient labelling on all food products, as even lesser-known allergens can cause serious reactions and life-threatening anaphylaxis,” she told The Independent. “We are closely monitoring emerging allergens and recently issued advice to people with a pea allergy. Pea is not one of the 14 allergens currently required by law to be listed, yet pea protein is increasingly being added to a wide range of foods, including in products where it may not be expected.”
It’s not just about what’s on the label, but how it’s presented. Miles continued, “For too long, people with food allergies have struggled with unclear and inconsistent food labelling. Vague ‘may contain’ warnings, small print, and confusing ingredient lists make it difficult to know whether a product is safe to eat.” She also raised concerns about online platforms such as TikTok Shop, where many products lack clear and accurate labelling—a growing risk for people with allergies.
The Food Standards Agency, the UK body responsible for food safety, acknowledges the challenge. “This is why pre-packed foods must list all ingredients, why food businesses must provide clear information about allergens and why we encourage consumers to speak up about their allergies,” said spokesman Dr. James Cooper, as quoted by the BBC. But for many, these measures don’t go far enough. Allergy UK is pushing for a food anaphylaxis registry to be introduced—a move they say would help the medical profession understand why life-threatening reactions occur and reduce future risks.
The scale of the problem is vast. Roughly 21 million people in the UK live with an allergy, according to Allergy UK. The incidence of food-induced anaphylaxis has risen in countries such as the US, UK, and Australia, with lifetime prevalence in the US estimated between 1.6% and 5.1%. And as new foods and proteins find their way into everything from vegan burgers to gluten-free snacks, the potential for hidden exposure only grows.
It’s not just a matter of regulatory oversight; it’s about real lives. People with allergies often carry adrenalin auto-injector pens in case they need urgent treatment, but prevention is always better than cure. As Simone Miles put it, “This is a growing risk for people with allergies, and we are urging consumers to be cautious and always check the label, while calling on regulators and retailers to take urgent action.”
For now, the message from researchers is clear: it’s time for regulators to revisit the list of mandatory allergens, bringing it in line with the realities of today’s food supply. With the number of people affected—and the severity of the risks—there’s little room for delay. As food choices diversify and the world gets smaller, clear, comprehensive labelling could be the difference between life and death for millions.
