New dietary trends and alternative proteins: the emergence of novel food allergens.

Purpose of the review: New dietary trends driven by environmental and health considerations will undoubtedly lead to the emergence of novel food allergens. Assessment of the allergenic risk of new or modified protein-containing food sources and ingredients, as well as surveillance of emerging food allergies, is then required.

Recent findings: Developments of in silico and in vitro models apprehending protein capacity to cross-react with other homologous proteins and to induce a de novo allergic sensitization are ongoing to better integrate multiple parameters such as 3D structural information or major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) presentation propensity. However, the effects of food matrices and food processing still need to be addressed in these models. Consequently, clinical and postmarket surveillance remain of critical importance to alert on emergent food allergies, which are modulated by regional dietary practices.

Summary: Monitoring of the emergence of food allergens requires close collaborations between allergologists, consumers, patient associations and food safety authorities. We also need to get a consensus on an acceptable level of allergenic risk that offers the possibility to develop and market innovative and sustainable food products.