Food allergy diagnosis today and in the future

Self-diagnosis of food allergies is notoriously unreliable and highly over-reported. Unnecessary avoidance of certain foods may have adverse nutritional consequences. People with food allergies therefore rely on accurate diagnosis in order to manage their allergies, as they need to avoid foods to which they react, but also must not needlessly restrict their diet. Accurate food allergy diagnosis is a specialized procedure requiring considerable clinical expertise. Currently, there are a range of diagnostic tests and procedures available to clinicians. However, all have their advantages as well as shortcomings. Further research is required to develop more accurate, convenient, and inexpensive tests. EuroPrevall is a large European research project aimed at improving the quality of life for food allergic individuals. EuroPrevall will develop new food allergy diagnostic tests as one of the ways to attempt to meet this goal. New diagnostic tests will help people to more effectively manage their food allergies. The new tests will also provide a clearer picture of the number of people allergic to different foods across Europe.