A molecule that could protect people against allergies to foods such as nuts, fish and milk, has been identified by an Institute of Food Research team.

It is thought that molecule could be used to bring allergies under control.

Latest figures show that 63pc of family doctors have seen an increase in patients reporting an allergy in the past year.
Some 180,000 children in Britain are allergic to nuts – the figure has increased threefold over 20 years and the allergy now affects one in 70 people in Britain.

Dr Claudio Nicoletti, leading the Institute team in Norwich, said: “A food protein can be harmless to one person and lethal to another. We have identified the missing molecule that normally keeps immune responses under control.” The experts have found that the molecule Interleukin-12 is absent in mice which are bred to be allergic to peanuts.

Research results published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggest that the molecule normally stops food allergies developing.

In severe cases, people can suffer life-threatening reactions, including anaphylactic shock. At present, the only way for sufferers to manage the problem is to avoid certain foods – and keep injectable adrenaline handy.

Dr Nicoletti said: “We have identified a molecule that is very important for regulation of immune response, and for the first time represents a potential target for the therapy of allergy.”