New study looks at exercise, stress, and peanut allergy severity

A new study being conducted at Cambridge University Hospitals, Imperial College London and the University of Manchester is attempting to correlate factors like exercise and stress levels with the severity of peanut allergy reactions.

The three-year TRACE study was commissioned by the United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency in order to find out how much peanut can cause an allergic reaction in order to better label foods that may have cross-contamination, but only at minuscule levels. This may mean that many items currently labeled "may contain traces.." would no longer require that label and be deemed safe for even those with allergies. It's likely that a change in the UK would eventually become a change in the U.S. and Canada as well.

The research is currently in its beginning stages as candidates for testing are recruited. It is expected to last three years with preliminary results beginning to be published as early as this time next year.