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Allergic risks of consuming edible insects: A systematic review
Author(s) -
Ribeiro José Carlos,
Cunha Luís Miguel,
SousaPinto Bernardo,
Fonseca João
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201700030
Subject(s) - biology , food allergy , food allergens , allergy , edible plants , cross reactivity , zoology , toxicology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cross reactions , antibody
Abstract The expected future demand for food and animal‐derived protein will require environment‐friendly novel food sources with high nutritional value. Insects may be one of such novel food sources. However, there needs to be an assessment of the risks associated with their consumption, including allergic risks. Therefore, we performed a systematic review aiming to analyse current data available regarding the allergic risks of consuming insects. We reviewed all reported cases of food allergy to insects, and studied the possibility of cross‐reactivity and co‐sensitisation between edible insects, crustaceans and house dust mites. We analysed a total of 25 articles – eight assessing the cross‐reactivity/co‐sensitisation between edible insects, crustaceans and house dust mites; three characterizing allergens in edible insects and 14 case reports, describing case series or prevalence studies of food allergy caused by insects. Cross‐reactivity/co‐sensitisation between edible insects and crustaceans seems to be clinically relevant, while it is still unknown if co‐sensitisation between house dust mites and edible insects can lead to a food allergy. Additionally, more information is also needed about the molecular mechanisms underlying food allergy to insects, although current data suggest that an important role is played by arthropod pan‐allergens such as tropomyosin or arginine kinase.

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