Research is an important part of our pursuit of better health. Through research, we gain a better understanding of food allergies, how to manage them, potential treatments, ways to improve quality of life, and hopefully a cure.

We work with doctors, researchers, patients, caregivers, public health, and government agencies to conduct and support research that is important to people affected by food allergies and other allergic conditions.

As a person with food allergies or a caregiver, you can get involved in research in different ways and have a major impact on food allergy research. Here are some of the ways you can help improve treatments, education, and awareness right now.

Surveys

Share Your Experiences with Food Allergies

AAFA is collaborating on a survey with researchers at Mass General Hospital. We are looking to better understand the experiences of children and teens living with food allergies and their caregivers. You can help by taking a 10-minute online survey about your family’s life with food allergies. The results will help us create resources to improve daily life for people with food allergies and their caregivers.

SURVEY FOR CAREGIVERS

SURVEY FOR TEENS

Latest News on Food Allergies, Asthma, and Other Allergic Conditions

Forgoing One Food Treats Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) as well as Excluding Six
New research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests eliminating animal milk alone from the diets of adults with EoE is as effective as the common six-food elimination diet (6FED). Elimination diets have been a cornerstone of EoE treatment. During the early 2000s, researchers found that eliminating six common food triggers of EoE - milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, and nuts - largely reduced signs and symptoms of EoE. The new research found that during a six-week clinical trial, about the same number of participants who removed animal milk only from their diet achieved EoE remission than people who eliminated six foods. The results suggest that eliminating one food can be used as a first-line diet therapy for EoE.

Report Finds an Enormous Increase in the Number of Food Items Recalled in 2022
A new report finds that the Food and Drug Administration recalled 423 food items in 2022. This is a slight increase from 414 in 2021. But the number of “units,” such as individual bags of salad or containers of infant formula, increased by over 700%. Undeclared allergens were the main cause of food recalls under the FDA jurisdiction, causing nearly half (44%) of all food recalls. Undeclared allergens have been the leading cause of FDA recalls for the past five years. Clear and accurate food allergy labeling is critical so people and families mangling food allergies can make informed decisions when purchasing foods.

Bryn Pharma’s UTULY™ 13.2mg Intranasal Epinephrine Spray Provides Enhanced PK Profile (higher and more sustained) Compared to 0.3mg Epinephrine Autoinjector (EpiPen) in Subjects with and without Nasal Congestion
New research has found that nasal congestion, a common symptom of anaphylaxis, may help increase the amount of epinephrine absorbed when using UTULY™, an epinephrine nasal spray currently in development. The research also found intranasal epinephrine to work as fast as an auto-injector and resulted in a higher and longer exposure of epinephrine. This can potentially reduce the need for a second dose and give people more time to get emergency care.

ARS Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Advisory Committee for neffy® for the Treatment of Allergic Reactions (Type 1), Including Anaphylaxis
The FDA is holding an advisory committee meeting on May 11, 2023, to review a new type of medicine for treating allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. This medicine, called neffy®, is a non-injectable nasal spray for epinephrine. The meeting will give experts the chance to review the medicine and its potential benefits. If approved, neffy® could provide a safe and effective option for patients who are reluctant to use injectable epinephrine devices.