250 million people worldwide live with food allergies. Every ten seconds, someone is rushed to the emergency room because of one. Allergen Alert is transforming our relationship with food, making it more transparent, more responsible, more inclusive, and safer. Because a meal should never be synonymous with exclusion or a gamble on one’s health.
- 250 million people worldwide live with food allergies, including 33 million in the United States
- In high-income countries, food allergies affect around 8% of children and up to 10% of adults, and 1% live with celiac disease
- Cases have increased by 50% over the past 15 years
- Every 10 seconds, someone is admitted to the ER for a food allergy
- 50% of severe reactions occur outside the home, where cross-contamination risks remain high
- Nine allergens account for 80% of allergic reactions: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame
Allergen Alert introduces the first portable device able to detect allergens or gluten directly in a meal with laboratory-level precision. Unlike barcode scanners or apps attempting to interpret a photo of a dish, this pocket-sized mini-lab relies on a patented, single-use pouch derived from bioMérieux’s laboratory technologies, which miniaturizes and automates every step of a professional analytical test. Compact and portable, it enables people with food allergies or celiac disease to test their food autonomously, wherever they are. Every 10 seconds, a person is admitted to the ER due to a food allergy; Allergen Alert provides a simple, reliable, and accessible preventive solution to a major public-health challenge. Welcome to an era where enjoying a meal can finally mean inclusion and peace of mind.
Food allergies: an invisible threat at every meal
Food allergies are not a minor inconvenience; they are a growing public-health concern. In the United States, 9% of the population (33 million people) is affected, with an additional 1% living with celiac disease. For these individuals, the fear of a reaction is constant. Beyond the numbers lies a deeper reality: the fear of a mistake, a trace amount, or accidental contact weighs on everyday life and social interactions. Most severe reactions occur outside the home, where people have less control over what is on their plate.
Allergen Alert: when laboratory-grade technology reaches the plate for safer meals
Allergen Alert represents a major breakthrough for people with food allergies or celiac disease. Beyond ingredient lists, labels, and conversations with restaurant staff, it provides users with an additional, innovative layer of protection powered by qualitative data. Anyone can now test their own meal, in real conditions and right before eating, using immunoassay technology that has until now been reserved for professional laboratories.
In practical terms, Allergen Alert is a portable, lightweight, battery-powered device that analyzes a calibrated, representative food sample placed inside a single-use pouch. Within minutes, the result clearly indicates whether an allergen or gluten is present.
An innovation born from a personal story…
Bénédicte Astier, CEO and founder of Allergen Alert:
“When my daughter Margot went into anaphylactic shock, I experienced what too many families know all too well: the fear that life can change because of a single meal. I realized we needed an extra safety belt; a way to test food anywhere, at any moment. Something concrete, reliable, and immediate that gives back control to people with allergies and those who care for them. That moment of awareness is where Allergen Alert was born: the belief that technology can transform fear into confidence, and allow everyone to enjoy a meal without feeling like they are risking their health at every bite.”
Eating out should be a joyful experience, not a terrifying one.
…And built on the scientific expertise of bioMérieux laboratories
Allergen Alert is rooted in a robust scientific foundation inherited from bioMérieux, a global leader in diagnostics and a major reference in food safety. It is within this research environment that the core miniaturized technology was developed.
Thanks to the company’s incubation within the InVenture intrapreneurship program, this expertise was transformed into a patented innovation: a sealed, single-use pouch that automates the entire analytical process (sample preparation, protein extraction, migration, detection, and analysis). This “sample-in, result-out” automation ensures reproducible reliability with minimal human intervention.
The mini-lab is being developed in collaboration with allergists, allergy patients and advocacy groups, as well as experts in food safety and the restaurant industry. By making laboratory-grade detection available in minutes, anywhere, Allergen Alert opens a new era of both individual and collective food-safety control.
From home kitchens to Michelin-starred tables: a technology with infinite applications
While Allergen Alert was created to meet the needs of people with allergies, its potential extends far beyond individual use. The technology has quickly attracted highly demanding environments, including Michelin-starred restaurants. The startup is also in advanced discussions with major corporate and school catering providers, as well as world-renowned event-catering services. Allergen Alert has the potential to become a key preventive tool for food-service professionals, a driver of transparency policies, and a bridge of trust between consumers and the industry.
Thanks to automated sample preparation, future applications could extend well beyond allergens, including broader food analysis, water testing, environmental monitoring, and more. The field of innovation is virtually limitless.
The company announced a €3.6 million fundraising round at the end of 2025 to finalize the development of its solution, launch industrialization, and prepare for pre-orders. The round remains open for an additional €500,000, offering an opportunity for investors wishing to join the journey and support Allergen Alert as it enters its growth and commercialization phase.
How it works
- Collect a food sample
- Insert the single-use pouch into the device
- Press the button to start the analysis… and get a clear result in minutes
Availability
Allergen Alert’s mini-lab will be available for pre-orders at the end of 2026. In addition to the device, test pouches will be offered at under $10 each or through a subscription plan.
The convergence of tech and brands 