TFT develops personalised food allergen detection system

User-Friendly Sensor and Tech (TFT), a start-up mentored by the Taiwan Startup Institute, has unveiled a personalised food allergen detection system.

Currently showcasing at CES 2020, TFT will commercially launch the technology in April next year.

TFT founder and CEO Wen-Hao Chen said: “Food allergies have become a present-day epidemic. Many people are allergic to foods like peanuts, nuts, seafood, milk, etc. Almost 34 million people in the United States have severe symptoms of food allergies.

“Reactions to allergens in food cause one hospital visit every three minutes in the US, accounting for 22% of all emergency patients. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US, the annual cost of health care for food allergies is about $25bn.”

The company explained that most of the technologies that are presently available in the market use a fast-screening test. This only indicates ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and does not meet the requirements of users with different physical conditions.

TFT claims that its system has the potential to determine the number of allergens in the food. It uses medical-level detection technology and helps users to ease allergy symptoms.

Wen-Hao Chen also said that the food allergen detection system combines nanotechnology to facilitate quick detection process.

Developers used artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analysis technology to create a cloud monitoring system and personalised applications.

Chen added: “We have recently reached a cooperation agreement with a well-known gluten-free food supplier in the US, which serves as a great starting point for our next expansion to gluten-free factories.”