Researchers warn that 1/3 of all food wrappers contain latex, which can bring about mild or severe allergies in people with hypersensitivity to this particular allergic trigger. The latex in the wrappers passes into the food they cover in amounts large enough to cause allergy.

The research was funded by the Food Standard Agency in UK. Taking into account the fact that 1 to 6 percent of the British population exhibit latex allergy, a safer way of packaging food should be found. But for this, further research and studies are needed. Until then, FSA advises people not to change their eating habits and what they eat, "as it is not clear that there actually is transfer of allergens from latex to food outside the laboratory."

Latex intoxication can lead to a various range of symptoms in allergic people. The symptoms range from mild to severe ones, individuals displaying a simple rash or an anaphylactic shock. If not treated, latex allergy may lead in some extremely severe cases even to death.

The study was conducted by the Leatherhead Food International on behalf of the Food Standards Agency and the findings are published in the today issue of the Chemistry & Industry magazine, the magazine for the Society of Chemical Industry. It is the first known study to measure and estimate the amount of latex present in food and food wrappers.

Natural latex is a compound derived from the sap of rubber trees. Rubber proteins can be harmful for individuals who exhibit an increased sensitivity to latex. This type of proteins is usually met in ice-creams, chocolate bars and biscuits and is used by manufacturers in order to prevent these foods from melting.

The research found that the amount of latex contained in one chocolate biscuit was 20 times higher than the latex level that can usually cause an allergic reaction in individuals sensitive to rubber proteins. Other products that were found to be rich in latex are: ice lollipops, pastry and stickers, rubber bands or nettings used with various foods.

Besides the fact that latex content in food and food wrappers should be reduced by all means, the findings of the study also call for a new rule concerning food labeling: the amount of latex in an alimentary product should always be listed on food labels from now on.

"If people with a latex allergy come into contact with this packaging it could have serious implications if they are opening and tearing it. If something contains nuts it has to say so on the packaging, the same should be the case with latex," stated Muriel Simmons, spokeswoman for Allergy UK.