Validation of novel recipes for masking peanuts in double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges

Double-blind, placebo-controlled oral food challenges are the gold standard in food allergy diagnosis. Nevertheless, proper masking of peanuts is particularly complex owing to their intense flavor and odor. Thus, it is important to use validated recipes to ensure their adequate masking during oral food challenges.

To design and validate recipes containing masked peanuts for double-blind, placebo-controlled oral food challenges.

Two types of products (cookies and a custard‑type dessert) containing the masked peanuts and other ingredients with low allergenic potential were designed and validated. For this purpose, of the 24 initial cookie recipes and 12 initial custard recipes developed, those that did not exhibit significant differences in their texture were selected for sensory validation.

Similarity triangle tests were performed using a panel of 36 selected tasters, enabling the validation of 1 pair of cookie recipes and 1 pair of custard-type dessert recipe, both with low allergenic potential and suitable for those with celiac disease and for vegans.

The validated recipes are of clinical and research interest because they allow to confirm a peanut allergy and detect a wide range of tolerated threshold doses, which makes it possible to provide specific indications for each patient.