Clinical Practice Statement outlining best practices for hospital-based food challenges published

The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) has published a new Clinical Practice Statement outlining best practices for hospital-based food challenges, an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of food allergy. The statement appears in Clinical & Experimental Allergy and provides practical recommendations to help healthcare professionals deliver food challenge procedures safely and consistently.

Food challenges play a critical role in determining whether a patient has a true food allergy and in assessing whether an existing allergy has resolved. While the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge is widely recognized as the gold standard diagnostic approach, open food challenges are frequently used in clinical practice because of their practicality and efficiency. The new BSACI guidance offers clinicians a framework for selecting, conducting, and interpreting hospital-based food challenges.

Food allergies affect millions of individuals worldwide and can significantly impact quality of life. Uncertainty regarding allergy status may lead to avoidable dietary limitations, nutritional concerns, anxiety, and increased healthcare utilization. The BSACI statement reinforces the importance of evidence-based diagnostic pathways that can provide patients and families with greater confidence in their care plans. 

The publication was authored by Isabel Skypala and colleagues and reflects expert consensus from leading specialists in allergy diagnosis and management.

Access Hospital-Based Food Challenges for the Diagnosis of Food Allergy: A BSACI Clinical Practice Statement here.