The field of food allergy has seen tremendous change over the past 5-10 years with seminal studies redefining our approach to prevention and management and novel testing modalities in the horizon. Early introduction of allergenic foods is now recommended, challenging the previous paradigm of restrictive avoidance. The management of food allergy has shifted from a passive avoidance approach to active interventions that aim to provide protection from accidental exposures, decrease allergic reaction severity and improve the quality of life of food-allergic patients and their families. Additionally, novel diagnostic tools are making their way into the clinical practice with the goal to reduce the need for food challenges and assist physicians in the -- often complex -- diagnostic process. With all the new developments and available choices for diagnosis, prevention and therapy, shared decision-making has become a key part of the medical consultation, enabling patients to make the right choice for them, based on their values and preferences. Communication with patients has also become more complex over time, as patients are seeking advice online and through social media, but the information found online may be outdated, incorrect, or lacking in context. The role of the allergist has evolved to embrace all the above exciting developments and provide patients with the optimal care that fits their needs. In this review, we discuss recent developments, as well as the evolution of the field of food allergy in the next decade.

Edmond Chan

and 8 more

1 Conflicts of interestESC has received research support from DBV Technologies; has been a member of advisory boards for Pfizer, Pediapharm, Leo Pharma, Kaleo, DBV, AllerGenis, Sanofi Genzyme, Bausch Health, Avir Pharma; is a member of the healthcare advisory board for Food Allergy Canada; was an expert panel and coordinating committee member of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)-sponsored Guidelines for Peanut Allergy Prevention; and was co-lead of the CSACI oral immunotherapy guidelines.SJ has been on speaker’s bureaus for Aralez, Novartis, Astra Zeneca, and Sanofi, and on the advisory board for Sanofi.MH has provided speaker services for Pfizer, Pediapharm, and has been part of an advisory board for ALK and provides privately funded OIT.VC has been a participant on advisory boards for Sanofi Genzyme, Bausch Health, and ALK, speaker services for Aralez Pharmaceuticals and CSL Behring.DM has provided consultation and speaker services for Pfizer, Aimmune, Kaleo, Merck, Covis and Pediapharm, and has been part of an advisory board for Pfizer and Bausch Health. He sits on the editorial board for the Journal of Food Allergy.EA Section Head of Anaphylaxis/Food Allergy for the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; sits on steering committee for Canada’s National Food Allergy Action Plan; moderator/speaker fees from Novartis, GSK, Sanofi, AstraZeneca.LS NoneTW speaking engagements for Pfizer and Stallergenes Greer, Advisory Board member for ALK and Leo PharmaJP is the Section Head of Allied Health for the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; and sits on the steering committee for Canada’s National Food Allergy Action Plan