Kimberly Gillan – Health and Wellbeing

People with severe nut allergies may soon be able to snack on them after scientists developed a way to re-shape the proteins contained within so the immune system can’t recognise them.

Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service in the US studied cashews and hope to move onto other nuts in a bid to introduce allergy free nuts to the market.

“The only widely accepted practice for preventing an allergic reaction to nuts is strict avoidance,” said researcher Dr Chris Mattison.

“Clinical trials to test immunotherapy are underway, but we’re approaching it from an agricultural perspective rather than medical. Can we change the food — instead of treating the person — so we can eliminate or reduce severe reactions?”

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