Tech News Summary:
- Researchers have found that reverse pressure sterilization can produce a less allergenic shrimp product that did not cause serious reactions in crustacean-sensitive mice.
- Heating proteins in foods can alter or break them down, preventing antibodies from recognizing them and making food safer for people with allergies to eat.
- A study published in ACS’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows a promising step forward in making shellfish more accessible to those with allergies and could pave the way for similar methods to reduce allergenicity in other foods.
Researchers have discovered that pressure and steam can effectively eliminate shrimp allergens, offering hope to those who suffer from shrimp allergies.
According to the study, which was conducted by the University of California, Davis, exposing shrimp to a combination of high pressure and high temperature can break down the proteins that trigger an allergic reaction.
The researchers tested the technique on shrimp samples and found that after the treatment, the proteins that cause allergic reactions were significantly reduced. They also tested the treated shrimp on mice that had a shrimp allergy and found that the mice did not show any allergic reactions after consuming the treated shrimp.
This discovery is significant, as shrimp allergies are one of the most common food allergies, affecting millions of people worldwide. The only current treatment for shrimp allergies is to avoid shrimp altogether, which can be difficult as shrimp is found in many popular dishes.
The researchers are hopeful that their findings can lead to the development of new treatments for shrimp allergies, such as using the pressure and steam technique in the food industry to reduce the allergenicity of shrimp products.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Soheila Jafari, said in a statement, “Our findings provide a promising approach to help alleviate shrimp allergies, which can significantly improve the quality of life for those who suffer from this type of allergy.”
Overall, the study offers a new approach to treating shrimp allergies, and could potentially lead to new treatments that could help those with food allergies live a better life.