Pulsed UV light can reduce the allergenic potential of peanuts by up to 90 percent, a discovery that may help make food safer for people with nut allergies. The concentrated bursts of light, known as PUV, change peanut allergens so that human antibodies can’t recognize them. This prevents the release of histamines, which can lead to serious and sometimes deadly allergic reactions. “We believe the allergen can be controlled at the processing stage, before the product even goes to the shelf,” says food scientist Wade Yang, an assistant professor at the University of Florida.
