Doesn’t spelled have a lower allergy potential than wheat?
Spelt has been trending for years. That Grain tastes good in bread and other pastries, in pasta, but also as a side dish. Some people resort to it because they suffer from a wheat allergy or wheat intolerance. But spelled can too allergies trigger.
Until the 20th century Spelt grown in many regions of Europe; later the cultivation was stopped almost completely. The tasty grain was only rediscovered in recent years and is now enjoying increasing popularity, writes the VerbraucherService Bayern im KDFB eV (VSB) on its website. What many people do not know is that spelled can also trigger allergies. This is reported by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in a opinion (PDF).
Causes of allergies and intolerances
According to the BfR, the fourteen most common types of pre-packaged food must trigger allergies and intolerances must always be listed in the list of ingredients. This includes cereals containing gluten such as wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Spelled is a type of wheat and, according to the Food Information Regulation, must be labeled with “wheat” by name and it is not sufficient to List of ingredients only specify spelled.
The BfR has assessed the relevance of labeling spelled as a type of wheat in the list of ingredients with regard to the health protection rated by the population.
Among other things, the question arose as to whether commercially available spelled same allergenicity like commercially available wheat and if so, whether consumers are aware of this.
Furthermore, the question arose whether people are aware that spelled is a wheat species acts.
High agreement on allergenic ingredients
As stated in the statement, the BfR comes to the conclusion that there are no published, meaningful clinical data that show a lower allergenic potential of spelled compared to commercial wheat.
In addition, according to the experts, there is a relatively high degree of accordance in the potentially allergenic components (protein molecules), which is why a similar allergenicity is to be expected.
Low level of knowledge of the population
To the Knowledge The BfR carried out a representative telephone survey to collect information regarding spelled and wheat from the population. Only half of the respondents stated that spelled belongs to the wheat genus.
Only regarding every fifth person surveyed assumed that spelled was allergenic compared to wheat. Because it is reported in some media that spelled is less allergenic than wheat, it cannot be ruled out that people who are allergic to wheat will resort to spelled products without consulting a doctor.
Regardless of the allergenicity of these products, it would also apply to people for other reasons wheat products want to avoid, it is important to know that spelled is a type of wheat.
From the point of view of health risk assessment and for reasons of transparency, the BfR advises Mandatory allergen labeling of spelled to clearly indicate that this is a type of wheat. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the requirements of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.