More Information on Current DuPont Products and Allergenicity

The ability to move genes from crops known to be allergens in certain individuals to "non-allergenic" crops raises concerns for people affected by food allergies. People with food allergies learn to avoid the allergenic food and its products. Therefore, if the allergenic protein occurs outside of its “native” crop, people allergic to that protein could inadvertently consume it and presumably would have an allergic response.

The tests outlined on the left side of the IFBC-ILSI decision tree reliably prevent known food allergens, such as peanuts, from being inadvertently transferred to a new food source. This was demonstrated by Pioneer, a DuPont Company, and reported in the scientific literature (Nordlee et al., 1996). In this example, the gene for a protein high in methionine, the 2S albumin gene, was being considered as a means to increase the nutritional quality of soybeans for animal feed. At that time, it was known that Brazil nuts caused an allergenic response in certain individuals when consumed, but the specific allergenic protein had not been identified. Nordlee’s work demonstrated for the first time that the 2S albumin protein from the Brazil nut was the allergen. Based on this work, the Brazil nut 2S albumin gene was abandoned as a possible gene candidate. Additional testing of 2S albumin proteins from another food source (sunflower) with sera from people allergic to foods containing sunflower products demonstrated that the 2S albumin was reactive, and therefore may be the allergen in that food as well.