Genetic Testing Uncovers Causes of Food Allergies in Families
Dallas – Feb. 19, 2026 – For many families, food allergies appear to be an inherited trait. Now, a fresh study from UT Southwestern Medical Center is shedding light on the genetic underpinnings of these reactions, offering hope for more precise diagnoses, and treatments. Researchers have discovered that advanced DNA testing can pinpoint genetic causes in nearly 40% of individuals with multiple food allergies, a significant step forward in understanding this growing public health concern.
The Scope of Food Allergies
Food allergies are a widespread issue, affecting an estimated 33 million Americans and contributing to approximately 3.4 million emergency room visits annually due to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction 1. Despite the prevalence of these allergies, effective treatment options remain limited.
A Deeper Dive into Genetics
Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the research suggests that a deeper dive into a person’s genetic makeup could change the landscape of food allergy care. The study focused on patients evaluated at the Food Allergy Center at Children’s Health by J. Andrew “Drew” Bird, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern, and Director of the Center.
These patients all had confirmed allergies to two or more foods – a group considered to have a higher inherited risk compared to those with a single food allergy. Using whole exome sequencing – a technique that analyzes the protein-coding regions of genes – the researchers examined the DNA of 56 patients and their family members when available.
Key Findings of the Study
“This research shows that advanced DNA testing can uncover clear genetic causes in nearly 4 out of 10 people with multiple food allergies,” said Jeffrey A. SoRelle, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics at UT Southwestern 1.
Nearly 40% of the patients carried a rare loss-of-function mutation in a gene known to increase allergy risk. Most of the mutations involved FLG, a gene that helps maintain the skin’s protective barrier. When that barrier weakens, allergens may enter the body more easily and trigger immune responses.
The study found that comprehensive genetic testing identified 58% more FLG mutations than traditional genotyping approaches and included variants often missed by older genetic tests, particularly in patients of non-European ancestry.
the researchers identified rare mutations in immune-related genes, including one involved in viral sensing. These findings suggest a possible genetic link between food allergy risk and the immune system’s response to infections, offering new insight into the long-standing hypothesis that early exposure to infections can boost the immune system.
Future Directions
“This study shows that we should be doing more sequencing in the field of food allergy, including for clinical trials and in research centers,” Dr. SoRelle said 3.
Moving forward, the team plans to expand the research through UTSW’s Sequencing Populations to Accelerate Research and Care (SPARC) program that launched in 2025 to investigate how specific genetic variants influence disease course and treatment response.
the broader use of comprehensive genetic testing could assist move food allergy care toward a more precise, individualized approach that reflects the underlying biology of a condition affecting millions of families.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators 1. The full-time faculty of more than 3,300 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians in more than 80 specialties care for more than 143,000 hospitalized patients, attend to more than 470,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.3 million outpatient visits a year.