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Houben G, Blom M, Alvito P, Assunção R, Crevel R, Fæste CK, Le TM, Madsen CB, Remington B, Stroheker T, Vassilopoulou E, Verhoeckx K, Žiarovská J, Constable A. Defining the targets for the assessment of IgE-mediated allergenicity of new or modified food proteins. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 127:61-69. [PMID: 30826409 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Many food innovations rely on the introduction and use of new or modified proteins. New or modified food proteins may lead to major health risks due to their inherent potential to cause food allergy. Currently, the pre-market allergenicity assessment for new or modified food proteins and protein sources relies on methods for identifying allergenic hazards based on characteristics of known allergens. However, there is no general consensus on the allergenicity parameters to use and the criteria that should apply for the evaluation and decisions to be made. In this paper, we propose that the strategy for allergenicity risk assessment of new or modified food proteins and the methodologies applied should be governed by the risk management questions to be answered, reflected in the information needed by risk managers to enable their informed decision making. We generated an inventory of health outcome-related assessment parameters and criteria potentially important for risk management decision-making and we discuss the implications of selecting different optional criteria (e.g. cut-off values) for what could be accepted as safe with regards to the health outcomes in the (at risk) population. The impact of these various options on both method development and risk management practices was investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paula Alvito
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Assunção
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | - Thuy-My Le
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jana Žiarovská
- Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic
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Martin P, Bladier C, Meek B, Bruyere O, Feinblatt E, Touvier M, Watier L, Makowski D. Weight of Evidence for Hazard Identification: A Critical Review of the Literature. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:076001. [PMID: 30024384 PMCID: PMC6108859 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transparency when documenting and assessing weight of evidence (WOE) has been an area of increasing focus for national and international health agencies. OBJECTIVE The objective of this work was to conduct a critical review of WOE analysis methods as a basis for developing a practical framework for considering and assessing WOE in hazard identification in areas of application at the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES). METHODS Based on a review of the literature and directed requests to 63 international and national agencies, 116 relevant articles and guidance documents were selected. The WOE approaches were assessed based on three aspects: the extent of their prescriptive nature, their purpose-specific relevance, and their ease of implementation. RESULTS Twenty-four approaches meeting the specified criteria were identified from selected reviewed documents. Most approaches satisfied one or two of the assessed considerations, but not all three. The approaches were grouped within a practical framework comprising the following four stages: (1) planning the assessment, including scoping, formulating the question, and developing the assessment method; (2) establishing lines of evidence (LOEs), including identifying and selecting studies, assessing their quality, and integrating with studies of similar type; (3) integrating the LOEs to evaluate WOE; and (4) presenting conclusions. DISCUSSION Based on the review, considerations for selecting methods for a wide range of applications are proposed. Priority areas for further development are identified. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3067.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Martin
- French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Agroecology and sustainable intensification of annual crops (UPR AIDA), Montpellier, France
- AIDA, CIRAD, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Claire Bladier
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Bette Meek
- McLaughlin Center for Risk Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Olivier Bruyere
- WHO Collaborating Center for Public Health Aspects of Musculo-Skeletal Health and Aging, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Eve Feinblatt
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Mathilde Touvier
- Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics, Sorbonne Paris Cité (CRESS), Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM, U1153), French National Institute of Research for Agriculture (INRA, U1125), National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (CNAM), Paris University, Bobigny, France
| | - Laurence Watier
- Biostatistics, Biomathematics, Pharmacoepidemiology and Infectious Diseases (B2PHI), INSERM, UVSQ, Pasteur Institute, University of Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | - David Makowski
- UMR Agronomy, INRA, AgroParisTech, University of Paris-Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
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Javed B, Padfield P, Sperrin M, Simpson A, Mills ENC. A protocol for a systematic review to identify allergenic tree nuts and the molecules responsible for their allergenic properties. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 106:411-416. [PMID: 28595954 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Food regulations require that tree nuts and derived ingredients are included on food labels in order to help individuals with IgE-mediated allergies to avoid them. However, there is no consensus regarding which tree nut species should be included in this definition and specified on food labels. Allergen detection methods used for monitoring foods target allergen molecules, but it not clear which are the most relevant molecules to choose. A modified population-exposure-comparators-outcome (PECO) approach has been developed to systematically review the evidence regarding (1) which allergenic tree nuts should be included in food allergen labelling lists and (2) which are the clinically relevant allergens which should be used as analytical targets. A search strategy and criteria against which the evidence will be evaluated have been developed. The resulting evidence will be used to rank tree nuts with regards their ability to cause IgE-mediated allergies, and allergen molecules regarding their capacity to elicit an allergic reaction. The results of the systematic review will enable risk assessors and managers to identify tree nut species that should be included in food allergen labelling lists and ensure analytical methods for determination of allergens in foods are targeting appropriate molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Javed
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester M17DN, UK; Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester M17DN, UK
| | | | - Matthew Sperrin
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M17DN, UK
| | - Angela Simpson
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester M17DN, UK; University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester M17DN, UK
| | - E N Clare Mills
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester M17DN, UK; Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester M17DN, UK.
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Houben G, Burney P, Chan CH, Crevel R, Dubois A, Faludi R, Klein Entink R, Knulst A, Taylor S, Ronsmans S. Prioritisation of allergenic foods with respect to public health relevance. Food Chem Toxicol 2016; 89:8-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2015.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Chung YJ, Ronsmans S, Crevel RWR, Houben GF, Rona RJ, Ward R, Baka A. Application of scientific criteria to food allergens of public health importance. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2012; 64:315-23. [PMID: 22884714 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Scientific criteria for identifying allergenic foods of public health importance (Björkstén, B., Crevel, R., Hischenhuber, C., Løvik, M., Samuels, F., Strobel, S., Taylor, S.L., Wal, J.-M., Ward, R., 2008. Criteria for identifying allergenic foods of public health importance. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 51(1), 42-52) have been further refined to incorporate an assessment of the strength of available scientific evidence (van Bilsen, J.H., Ronsmans, S., Crevel, R.W., Rona, R.J., Przyrembel, H., Penninks, A.H., Contor, L., Houben, G.F., 2011. Evaluation of scientific criteria for identifying allergenic food of public health importance. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 60, 281-289). A multi-disciplinary group was invited to critically test the refined approach. They independently evaluated selected publications on coconut, soy and/or peanut allergy, scored them using the newly developed level of evidence criteria, and debated proposed approaches for combining and utilising the scores to measure the overall impact of an allergen in public health impact assessments. The evaluation of selected publications using the modified criteria produced a relatively consistent result across the experts. These refined criteria were judged to be a way forward for the identification of allergenic foods of public health importance, and for prioritisation of allergen risk management and future data gathering. The debate to combine available evidence when assessing whether an allergenic food is of sufficient public health importance to warrant active management led to proposals on how to weight and combine evidence on allergen severity, potency and prevalence. The refined criteria facilitate a debate to find a meaningful sequence of steps to summarise the available information in relation to a food allergen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y J Chung
- Nestlé Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Richter K, Rubin D, Lampen A. [Current aspects in risk assessment of allergen traces in foodstuffs]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2012; 55:394-401. [PMID: 22373854 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-011-1438-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In contrast to usual ingredients in processed packaged foodstuffs, there are no suitable and binding regulations for the labeling of unintentional allergen traces in these foods as yet. This situation is unsatisfactory in regard to the fact that even traces of undeclared "hidden" allergens can constitute a considerable health risk for food allergic consumers. Furthermore, the unintentional cross-contact (cross-contamination) of allergens is also an issue in regard to food manufacturer product liability and due diligence. Therefore, stakeholders consider imperative need for the scientific determination of maximum tolerable levels of allergen traces in order to establish thresholds for legally binding food labeling. In addition to conventional toxicological risk assessments, the risk assessment of allergen traces that would be necessary in this context nowadays also incorporates modern approaches such as benchmark procedures and probabilistic modeling and methods. The scientific debate concerning the establishment of safe threshold levels continues, and a consensus must still be reached.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Richter
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Deutschland
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