Brands

Hot News

This handheld device could save you from your next allergic reaction - here's the pitch
Publish Time: 05 Jan, 2026
img-2182.jpg
Nina Raemont/

Follow : Add us as a preferred source  on Google.

key takeaways 

  • Allergen Alert tests food for allergies. 
  • It will launch with gluten and lactose tests in mid-2026. 
  • Other allergen tests will be added later. 

Dining out at new restaurants can be a fun way to try different cuisines and get together with friends. For people with allergies, though, eating food they haven't prepared themselves in a new place can pose a serious threat. Cross-contamination can happen anywhere, and food-related anaphylaxis sends patients to the emergency room every six minutes, according to the Journal for Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 

This new device, no bigger than a CD player, aims to prevent anaphylaxis for some of the most common food allergies. Think of Allergen Alert as a mini lab test for your plate to detect common allergens, like lactose or gluten. The allergy-detecting device is on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. 

Also: CES 2026: Live updates

Allergen Alert works by inserting a small sample of a dish into the pouch, which is then crushed, diluted, and extracted for problematic molecules, such as gluten, lactose, or other allergens. It has taken over ten years of development, but the device has been granted three patents and received FDA clearance, according to Antoine Burgaud, Allergen Alert's chief operating officer. 

The device is being developed for both consumer and business use cases, whether a mom is testing her child's plate at a birthday dinner or a catering company is ensuring their dairy-free dish lives up to its claim. "Even trace amounts of allergens can trigger reactions, which range from mild symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Food allergies significantly affect quality of life, social behavior, and healthcare systems," Allergen Alert says on its website. 

Also: Withings new smart scale gives you its most detailed health reading yet

If Allergen Alert lives up to its claims, the device could eliminate the guesswork -- and anxiety -- associated with eating out with an allergy, thereby preventing allergic reactions.  

Allergen Alert will launch in the US in the middle of 2026. Burgaud says that the company aims to add more of the most common allergens, like soy, shellfish, and peanuts, to its allergen test lineup. 

LG just revealed its 2026 TV lineup, and it's challenging Samsung in almost every way These brain-tracking earbuds use EEG to measure your cognitive performance
Health
I’d like Alerts: