Food allergy model for fenugreek developed

The mouse model – which can also be used to study cross-reactivity to major food allergens like peanut, soy and lupin – will help new foods to be tested for their potential allergicity and may one day help to find way to alleviate the allergy all together.

The researchers noted that although allergic reactions to fenugreek may be severe, its presence is rarely declared in ingredient listings, whilst there is also great concern about potential cross-reactivity with other legumes.

"Allergens that are hidden in generic terms like spices, pose a special problem for food-allergic people,”​ said Nina Eriksen Vinje, from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health - and first author of the research paper published in the Scandinavian Journal of Immunology​.​

“Fenugreek is a well-known food ingredient in Asian dishes, and as dietary patterns are changing, we will be more exposed to fenugreek … Mouse models are important research tools that give valuable information in the understanding of food allergies, and may contribute to develop specific therapies for these food allergies,”​ she said.