Mitigating Food Allergen Risks From Potential New Plant Varieties

New advancements in biotechnology could dramatically alter many industries in the coming decade, including agriculture as well as food and beverage manufacturing. Thanks to the proliferation of plant protein gene-transference, researchers are now able to create new plant varieties with desirable traits from other species. However, some experts worry that gene-splicing could introduce food allergens into crops that were previously safe for the general public to eat, potentially creating a new type of food safety risk for the industry to navigate. 

In April 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) weighed in on the potential food allergen risks in a preemptive response letter. Though this technology is not expected to impact food safety in the immediate future, it’s important for manufacturers and other industry stakeholders to be aware of and prepare to take action to mitigate potential risks down the line. Let’s look at some benefits from biotechnology in the world of food safety, as well as break down the concerns raised by the FDA letter. 

The Future of Biotechnology and Food Safety 

Changing the genetic makeup of plants can provide a number of benefits for farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders throughout the food supply chain. Scientists are already working on modifications for: 

• Increased nutrition 
  Blending genes from different plant varieties can enhance the nutritional value of ingredients to meet the needs of different populations. For example, scientists were recently able to increase the protein content of chickpeas by 75% with genome cultivation technology, especially helpful for finding plant-based alternatives to meat.
• Stronger disease resistance 
  Introducing virus-, fungus-, and bacteria-resistant genes to plants traditionally vulnerable to infection can make plants more resilient and protect the health of crops. Disease resistance can also reduce the chance of spreading pathogens to consumers. 
• Higher crop yields 
  When scientists introduce genes that enable crops to thrive in adverse environmental conditions like drought, they can generate higher yields and improve food security. These traits will be increasingly important to protecting crop yields as climate change causes more extreme weather events. 

While these benefits could be pivotal to overcoming the threats of climate change, food shortages, and inadequate nutrition, it’s unclear if proteins from known food allergens like sesame or wheat could cause reactions among consumers when introduced to new plants. In fact, the FDA is already thinking ahead about potential issues that could arise from these allergens. 

Mitigating Potential Risk of the Next Generation of Food Allergens 

Currently, the FDA does not anticipate any food allergen or food safety issues resulting from these gene editing techniques, but it’s important to remain prepared in the event they release new guidelines. Fortunately, there are three strategies food and beverage companies can implement now to help mitigate the risks of new food allergens: 

1. Work with suppliers to enhance transparency 

By enhancing transparency with suppliers, manufacturers can make informed decisions about ingredient selection or update labels to warn consumers of potential food allergens. Here’s what you can do: 

• Establish clear communication channels with your suppliers to raise concerns about potential risk of food allergens. 
• Ask suppliers to disclose whether any products or ingredients they’re providing have been genetically altered to include proteins from allergenic foods. 
• When appropriate, request supporting documentation. 

2. Screen for food allergen proteins 

Expanding your food allergen testing program to raw materials suspected of containing allergenic food proteins can prevent unlabeled allergens from entering the market by mistake. In addition to discussing new plant varieties with suppliers, manufacturers should periodically screen individual ingredients from suppliers to ensure there are no undeclared allergens. 

3. Stay up to date on the latest regulations 

At this time, it’s not clear if new genetically modified plant varieties even pose a food allergen risk. However, in their April 2023 letter, the FDA stressed the responsibility manufacturers have to prevent unintended or unexpected food allergens in final products from reaching the market unlabeled. As they monitor the technology more closely, they may draft formal guidelines and policies around food ingredients produced by gene transfer technology. Staying up to date on the latest news is critical to maintaining compliance and upholding food safety standards. 

Realizing the Potential of New Technology, Safely 

Biotechnology like gene protein transference is critical to overcoming challenges like climate change, malnutrition, and other agricultural and food security threats. As research surrounding this new technology continues, regulators will draft policies accordingly to protect public health. AIB International can help keep you informed of new regulations, develop new processes, and navigate the complexities of compliance. 

Want your team to stay up to date on allergen management? Learn more about our comprehensive Food Safety and Sanitation online course and elevate your supervisor’s Food Safety knowledge.