Benefits and concerns associated with biotechnology-derived foods: Can additional research reduce children health risks?

The development of tech- niques devised for the genetic manipulation of foods poses new risks for children with food al- lergy (FA). The introduction of foreign aller- genic proteins from different foods into previ- ously tolerated foods may trigger allergic reac- tions, often complicating with anaphylactic shock in a subset of allergic babies. Children with FA, even if subjected to preventative diets, always challenge the risk of developing aller- gic manifestations after unintentional intake of a non tolerated food in restaurant settings, with relatives or schoolmates, etc, where prod- uct labelling is necessarily lacking. The intro- duction of potentially allergenic proteins into foods generally considered safe for allergic children can be done deliberately, by either substantially altering the food ingredients, or by genetic manipulation which change the composition or transfer allergens, or uninten- tionally by qualitycontrol failures, due to cont- aminations in the production process, or to ge- netic mismanipulation. There is a controversy between multinationals often favored by gov- ernments and consumer association resis- tance, thus an equidistant analysis poses some unprecedented impediments. The impor- tance of FA and the potential of transgenic plants to bring food allergens into the food supply should not be disregarded. The expres- sion in soybeans of a Brazil nut protein result- ed in a food allergen ex-pressed in widely used infant formulas, so paving the way to an often reported multinational debacle. Genetic engi- neering poses innovative ethical and social concerns, as well as serious challenges to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the future of agriculture. In this paper will be emphasized practical concepts more crucial for pediatricians.