Allergies are an increasing challenge for healthcare systems and everyday life, making them a major global public health issue. According to the Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform, 20 to 30% of the world’s population has at least one allergy. The WHO predicts that by 2050, this could rise to 50%, making allergies an even greater concern.

Several factors contribute to this rise, including changes in diet, increased exposure to environmental allergens, and the hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that overly sterile living conditions may limit immune tolerance development. At the same time, consumers are demanding greater transparency about allergens in food, cosmetics, and medicines. However, allergen regulations remain less stringent than those for bacteria and viruses, creating challenges for both businesses and consumers.

Understanding the Current Situation

To gain insight into the current situation and future challenges, Pascale Couratier provided her perspective. She served as president of the French Association for Allergy Prevention (AFPRAL) for ten years before becoming its general director. With a degree in Respiratory Health and Habitat and certification as a medical advisor in indoor environments (CMEI), she frequently speaks at conferences and participates in panel discussions to share her expertise on allergies and their potentially severe reactions.

Under her leadership, AFPRAL has launched numerous initiatives to improve safety for allergic individuals, including collaborations with the food industry and the development of tools like the Allergobox app, which enhances allergen information. Despite significant progress in recent years, she emphasizes that many challenges remain and that further efforts are needed to better protect consumers.

Challenges in Allergen Regulations

Compared to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, allergen regulations in manufactured products remain relatively weak. Pascale Couratier attributes this lag to "the late recognition of allergies as a public health issue, which only happened about twenty years ago."

The first allergen labeling regulation was introduced in 2003 with Directive 2003/89/EC, requiring allergens to be listed on pre-packaged food. This regulation took effect in November 2005. It was only in 2015 that it was extended to non-prepackaged foods, bringing food service industries, restaurants, canteens, and catering services under regulation.

While current labeling rules mark progress by requiring allergens to be clearly and visibly listed, they remain insufficient to ensure optimal protection for allergic individuals. Pascale Couratier highlights several shortcomings, including "the lack of standardization in trace amounts and the overly vague thresholds." She also stresses the need for "greater awareness among industries about the public health issues related to allergies". These gaps underline key areas for improvement to enhance transparency and better protect allergic consumers.

Gaps in the Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical Sectors

In the cosmetic sector, no strict regulation mandates the systematic declaration of allergens, making it difficult for consumers to identify potentially risky products. However, a recent development came with Regulation 2023/1545 on July 26, 2023, which added 56 new substances to the list of allergens that must be mentioned on cosmetic products, bringing the total to 80. While this requirement, set to take effect in 2026, represents progress, it remains incomplete and does not cover all potential allergens.

In the pharmaceutical sector, no specific regulation requires allergens to be systematically listed on medication labels. However, manufacturers are asked to disclose excipients with known effects (substances that may cause adverse reactions) in the medication leaflet. Pascale Couratier believes that all three industries should have clearer and more consistent allergen regulations.

“The goal is not to restrict industries, but to ensure clear, complete, and accessible information so that people can make informed choices.” - Pascale Couratier

The Need for Clearer and More Consistent Regulations

In conclusion, as allergies continue to rise, strengthening allergen monitoring and improving regulations has become increasingly urgent.

"Defining clear thresholds, regularly updating allergen lists, and harmonizing labeling rules across sectors are essential to better protect allergic individuals." - Pascale Couratier

Ultimately, the commitment of organizations like AFPRAL shows that solutions exist, if industries, institutions, and consumers work together to tackle this public health challenge.