Recent headlines have highlighted the exciting results of a clinical trial conducted at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, which looked at whether allergen exposure could desensitise people with severe peanut allergies.

The trial saw a cohort of adults with severe allergies take daily doses of peanuts under strict supervision to find out whether they could be safely tolerated. The approach, known as oral immunotherapy, has shown great success, with two-thirds consuming the equivalent of four peanuts without reacting.

These results are potentially life-changing – and life-saving – for people who suffer from severe peanut allergies, and provide the hope that in the future, these people may be able to access a treatment that reduces their risk of accidental exposure.

The findings are not, however, a reason for the food industry to become........

© Herald Scotland