Barriers and Solutions to Optimal Food Allergy Prevention, Diagnostic, and Management Strategies

Abstract

Food allergy (FA) remains a significant public health issue, posing challenges for patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. Despite advancements in FA diagnosis and treatment, substantial unmet needs remain. Clinicians, researchers, and representatives from governmental organizations (National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration) and industry convened at the 2023 Clinical Development Day hosted by Food Allergy Research & Education to discuss current challenges and propose collaborative solutions for comprehensive FA management. Key barriers identified during the meeting included low adoption of early allergen introduction, limited access to oral food challenges, suboptimal diagnostic tools and pathways to approval, and clinician uncertainty and logistical challenges regarding the implementation of oral immunotherapy. Proposed solutions included simplifying messaging and increasing awareness of early introduction benefits among providers and caregivers, group oral food challenges to maximize clinic resources, collaborative efforts to develop cost-effective characterized food allergens, and targeted clinician and patient education regarding oral immunotherapy. Overall, optimizing FA prevention and management requires dynamic and collaborative efforts with the ongoing goal of reducing disease burden and enhancing quality of life for patients and families. The solutions proposed during the Food Allergy Research & Education Clinical Development Day emphasize the need for continued innovation, accessible resources, and patient-centered approaches to advance the FA field.

Keywords: Allergen standardization; Anaphylaxis; Diagnosis; Early introduction; Food allergy; Immunotherapy; Prevention; US Food and Drug Administration.