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Food intolerance
336
Information Section--Fd Chem. Toxic'. Vol. 33, No. 4
with chemical pesticides declined by 36% over the decade, largely because of the increasing use of biological control agents. General principles of risk asessment for non-target terrestrial arthropods in agroecosystems were considered during the year. The Committee made a number of recommendations for data requirements and test guidelines. It further recommended that a stepwise risk assessment scheme for natural enemies should be used for all new active ingredients and reviews; labels should include information on toxicity to non-target arthropods in order to inform user
choice; unsprayed crop headland should be required for all summer-applied insecticides in cereals, unless a general level of selectivity could be demonstrated with individual active ingredients; all insecticides should be reviewed for their effects on non-target arthropods; and leaflets should be produced informing users of agricultural practices that will benefit natural enemies. [Advisory Committee on Pesticides Annual Report 1993, M A F F & HSE. HMSO, London, 1994, pp. vii + 80. £9.50. {Ref: 77749}
ABSTRACTS FROM THE LITERATURE Carmine A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) involving sneezing, major breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea developed in a 34-yr-old woman within 15 min of drinking a Campari-orange. Skinprick tests identified carmine (tested at 0.1% in water), the red dye in the Campari, as the agent responsible. The woman reported a history of itching eyes and burning skin when she had used cosmetic products containing carmine in the past (Kfigi et al., Lancet 1994, 344, 60). Milk An Italian farmer developed severe allergic respiratory symptoms and loss of consciousness on seven separate occasions that he milked his flock of sheep. Skin tests using whole milk and the milk proteins casein and lactoglobulin confirmed his allergy. The farmer had a history of adverse reactions to ingested cows' milk and cheese. He was subsequently able to continue milking his sheep without problem by wearing a civil-defence gas mask (Vargiu et al., Allergy 1994, 49, 386). Protein A case-control study in Minnesota, USA, reported a significantly increased risk of renal cell cancer with higher consumption of protein. Diet in 532 adult patients prior to development of renal cell cancer was compared with that of 650 control subjects. Risk of developing the disease increased from 1.2 to 1.4 to 1.9 in the second, third and fourth quartiles, respectively, of protein intake (Chow et al., Journal o[the National Cancer Institute 1994, 86, 1131 ). Food intolerance A study to identify the prevalence of intolerance to eight foods commonly perceived to cause sensitivity in the UK has been published in the medical press. An initial survey of 7500 households in the Wycombe Health Authority area and the same number of randomly selected households nationwide (around 20,000 individuals in total) was conducted. Of the 18,880 individual respondents, about 20% corn-
plained of food intolerance (itching, eczema, urticaria, angio-oedema, asthma, runny nose, intestinal or joint symptoms, behavioural or mood changes and headache). Perceived intolerance was highest to chocolate (6.6% in respondents from the Wycombe Health Authority, and 6.9% nationwide) and additives (4.9% from Wycombe, 5.8% nationwide). A double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge study was completed by 93 volunteers from the High Wycombe area who had reported food intolerance. Volunteers were challenged on 3-day (or 7-day for those reporting eczema or behavioural symptoms) periods with eight food types (cow's milk, hen's egg, wheat, soya, citrus fruit--as orange, fish/shellfish--as prawn, nuts--peanut, brazil, walnut and hazel, and chocolate) or corresponding placebos. Positive reactions were reported in 19.4% (95% confidence intervals 11.4%-27.4%). An estimate of the prevalence rate of intolerance in the populations to (at least one of) the eight tested foods was 1.4-1.8%, depending on the stringency of the definition used. Noting the "'discrepancy between perception of food intolerance and the results of the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges" the investigators suggested that "'the consequences of mistaken perception of food intolerance may be considerable in financial, nutritional, and health terms" (Young et al., Lancet 1994, 343, 1127). Lupin Following an episode in which a 5-yr-old girl with a history of peanut sensitivity experienced an allergic reaction (urticaria and swelling) after ingesting a spaghetti-like pasta fortified with sweet lupin seed flour, an extract of the pasta was assessed for its immunlogical properties in seven adult patients with peanut sensitivity. Five of the seven experienced positive allergic reactions in skin prick tests with the extract and a sweet lupin seed extract led the US investigators to conclude that "'some peanut-sensitive patients may be at risk for adverse reactions to lupine" (Hefle et al., Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1994, 94, 167).
Information Section--Fd Chem. Toxic'. Vol. 33, No. 4
with chemical pesticides declined by 36% over the decade, largely because of the increasing use of biological control agents. General principles of risk asessment for non-target terrestrial arthropods in agroecosystems were considered during the year. The Committee made a number of recommendations for data requirements and test guidelines. It further recommended that a stepwise risk assessment scheme for natural enemies should be used for all new active ingredients and reviews; labels should include information on toxicity to non-target arthropods in order to inform user
choice; unsprayed crop headland should be required for all summer-applied insecticides in cereals, unless a general level of selectivity could be demonstrated with individual active ingredients; all insecticides should be reviewed for their effects on non-target arthropods; and leaflets should be produced informing users of agricultural practices that will benefit natural enemies. [Advisory Committee on Pesticides Annual Report 1993, M A F F & HSE. HMSO, London, 1994, pp. vii + 80. £9.50. {Ref: 77749}
ABSTRACTS FROM THE LITERATURE Carmine A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) involving sneezing, major breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea developed in a 34-yr-old woman within 15 min of drinking a Campari-orange. Skinprick tests identified carmine (tested at 0.1% in water), the red dye in the Campari, as the agent responsible. The woman reported a history of itching eyes and burning skin when she had used cosmetic products containing carmine in the past (Kfigi et al., Lancet 1994, 344, 60). Milk An Italian farmer developed severe allergic respiratory symptoms and loss of consciousness on seven separate occasions that he milked his flock of sheep. Skin tests using whole milk and the milk proteins casein and lactoglobulin confirmed his allergy. The farmer had a history of adverse reactions to ingested cows' milk and cheese. He was subsequently able to continue milking his sheep without problem by wearing a civil-defence gas mask (Vargiu et al., Allergy 1994, 49, 386). Protein A case-control study in Minnesota, USA, reported a significantly increased risk of renal cell cancer with higher consumption of protein. Diet in 532 adult patients prior to development of renal cell cancer was compared with that of 650 control subjects. Risk of developing the disease increased from 1.2 to 1.4 to 1.9 in the second, third and fourth quartiles, respectively, of protein intake (Chow et al., Journal o[the National Cancer Institute 1994, 86, 1131 ). Food intolerance A study to identify the prevalence of intolerance to eight foods commonly perceived to cause sensitivity in the UK has been published in the medical press. An initial survey of 7500 households in the Wycombe Health Authority area and the same number of randomly selected households nationwide (around 20,000 individuals in total) was conducted. Of the 18,880 individual respondents, about 20% corn-
plained of food intolerance (itching, eczema, urticaria, angio-oedema, asthma, runny nose, intestinal or joint symptoms, behavioural or mood changes and headache). Perceived intolerance was highest to chocolate (6.6% in respondents from the Wycombe Health Authority, and 6.9% nationwide) and additives (4.9% from Wycombe, 5.8% nationwide). A double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge study was completed by 93 volunteers from the High Wycombe area who had reported food intolerance. Volunteers were challenged on 3-day (or 7-day for those reporting eczema or behavioural symptoms) periods with eight food types (cow's milk, hen's egg, wheat, soya, citrus fruit--as orange, fish/shellfish--as prawn, nuts--peanut, brazil, walnut and hazel, and chocolate) or corresponding placebos. Positive reactions were reported in 19.4% (95% confidence intervals 11.4%-27.4%). An estimate of the prevalence rate of intolerance in the populations to (at least one of) the eight tested foods was 1.4-1.8%, depending on the stringency of the definition used. Noting the "'discrepancy between perception of food intolerance and the results of the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges" the investigators suggested that "'the consequences of mistaken perception of food intolerance may be considerable in financial, nutritional, and health terms" (Young et al., Lancet 1994, 343, 1127). Lupin Following an episode in which a 5-yr-old girl with a history of peanut sensitivity experienced an allergic reaction (urticaria and swelling) after ingesting a spaghetti-like pasta fortified with sweet lupin seed flour, an extract of the pasta was assessed for its immunlogical properties in seven adult patients with peanut sensitivity. Five of the seven experienced positive allergic reactions in skin prick tests with the extract and a sweet lupin seed extract led the US investigators to conclude that "'some peanut-sensitive patients may be at risk for adverse reactions to lupine" (Hefle et al., Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1994, 94, 167).