Keeping Allergic Reactions at Bay

Be it lactose intolerance or anaphylaxis induced by peanuts and gluten; food allergies are no joke. Ask the millions of people in the world who suffer from various food allergies, and you’ll know how tough it is to eat outside, share lunch boxes, or dine with friends and family; without being in constant fear of what the food might contain.
Most of us who are lucky enough to be able to consume all kinds of food, do not understand the gravity of anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment) caused due to certain foods that do not suit every body. The most common food allergies stem from consumption of milk or milk products, nuts and items containing gluten. Can you imagine not being able to consume chocolates, cakes, bread, peanut butter, pastas or milkshakes?

For those suffering from food allergies, a task such as eating food, that we take for granted, is a stressful activity. They constantly worry about what ingredients the dish in front of them might contain; and which might trigger a dangerous and at times even a lethal reaction in their body. All food stuffs available in stores are supposed to be properly labelled for ingredients and specific substance warnings. Restaurants too, can serve gluten or peanut free items for such customers. But often, this isn’t enough; and consumption of even a tiny bit of the wrong substance can endanger lives.

Nima, a small healthcare technology company in the US has come to the aid of all those who live in fear of what they put into their stomach; by creating a tiny instrument that can detect allergens in food.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas early this year, Nima launched the Nima Peanut Sensor, a small device that can test a tiny piece of food; can detect peanut protein up to 10ppm (parts per million) and is 99% accurate: a life-saver (literally) for those allergic to peanuts!

Modelled on the company’s earlier product, the Nima Gluten Sensor, the Nima Peanut Sensor is a handy device that can be carried everywhere and used to test food when unsure of its contents. This is very convenient in restaurants, at parties or in school when kids are not sure of what their food contains or when it seems awkward to ask your waiters/chefs or hosts to make an exception for you. You just have to put a pea-sized bit of food into the sensor’s capsule and wait for a couple of minutes for the results to show up. The sensor will tell you if the food is safe for consumption or not. The test results can also be uploaded via Bluetooth to an app that shares food/ restaurant information with other users; an easy way to know what to eat where!
Nima is recognized as a leader in allergen research and also has received a grant from the National Institute of Health for developing the peanut sensor. The Nima Peanut Sensor kit is available online for a price of $289 and includes a pack of 12 testing capsules.
Products like the Gluten sensor and Peanut sensor are incredibly helpful for people who have to live with food allergies every day. Thanks to technology that is constantly being updated, people can now carry their own testing devices that keep allergic reactions at bay.