Research and development on a genetically modified pea had been abandoned after feeding trials in mice resulted in detrimental health effects. The most probable trigger for these effects was identified to be the novel protein the gene of which originated from a normal bean variety. Conversely, the original bean protein unlike the pea-derived protein did not trigger similar symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the protein expressed in peas differ from the bean protein which was in fact confirmed by experiments.

Against this backdrop the project investigates (a) whether the approach and methods used by the Australian scientists can be meaningfully applied in allergenicity assessment; (b) whether the allergenicity assessment presently applied in EU authorisation procedures of genetically modified crops would have detected the effects described by Prescott et al.; (c) whether the presently applied assessment procedure needs to be modified or extended in the light of the Prescott study.