By Paul Sisco
Washington
31 August 2007

According to the U.S. National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, most severe food allergic reactions come from nuts, primarily peanuts. And because of that researchers are trying to develop an allergy- free peanut.  VOA's Paul Sisco reports on promising new research.

Jill Mindlin's six-year-old daughter, Maya, has severe food allergies. "Being a parent of a kid with as many allergies as Maya has is very stressful and adds another layer to everything we do that other people just don't experience," says Jill.

Allergist Dr. Scott Sicherer wonders about the causes, "Is it because children are getting peanuts earlier in their diet, maybe later in their diet? Maybe it is mothers eating peanuts during pregnancy and breast feeding, or maybe it's just something about our current environment."

Researcher Mohamed Ahmedna at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University believes he has found a way to eliminate allergens from peanuts after harvesting. "The farmer can go on and produce whatever they produce now. We remove the allergens through processing rather than through breeding of the peanut itself."

Initial reports are positive but the processed peanuts have not been tested on humans.

Maria Gallo

Finally, at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, a different approach to the problems presented by peanut allergies.  Dr. Wesley Burks, M.D., says, "What we are doing is counterintuitive, we are always asking them not to ingest this."

Dr. Wesley Burks

Other food allergies to milk and egg are more common, but not as severe. But in the United States alone, where there are an estimated 125 food allergy deaths a year, most are blamed on peanuts.