Main Processed Hypoallergenic Foods: A Potential Tool to Improve Informed Dietary Choices in Children with IgE-Mediated Food Allergies

TL;DR

Processed hypoallergenic foods may help children with food allergies make safer dietary choices and support allergy treatments.

Contribution

This review explores the use of processed major allergens to help manage IgE-mediated food allergies in children.

Findings

Processed foods can reduce allergenicity depending on the method used.

Processed foods may serve as alternatives in diets and oral immunotherapy for children.

An oral food challenge is recommended before incorporating processed foods into a child's diet.

Abstract

In the context of IgE-mediated food allergies in children, the use of hypoallergenic foods may offer an appropriate solution for enabling informed dietary choices and reducing reactivity to allergenic foods. It is well established that certain foods can alter their allergenicity depending on the method of processing. As such, processed foods may serve both as an alternative dietary option and as a useful tool in oral immunotherapy for children with IgE-mediated food allergies. Nevertheless, an oral food challenge is always recommended when a pediatric allergist considers incorporating processed foods into a child’s diet. This review aims to explore the potential use of processed forms of the nine major food allergens in IgE-mediated food allergies, supporting pediatric allergists in partially liberalizing children’s diets and facilitating the development of tolerance.

Figures