Eating out or traveling with a food allergy can be anxiety-inducing, if not downright terrifying. Accidentally consuming an allergen can cause a potentially life-threatening reaction.
Allergen Alert could make this fear a thing of the past. Currently in development and showcased at CES 2026, the mini, portable lab makes it easy to check your food no matter where you are in the world. Though it only detects gluten and dairy for now, plans are in place to include additional allergens in future designs.
All you have to do is take a sample of your food, place it inside the single-use pouch, insert it into the small device and press a button. In minutes, you'll receive your allergen results.
Read more: Allergen Alert has been selected as a winner in the Best Startup category for the Official Best of CES 2026 Awards.
CNET Home and Kitchen Managing Editor David Watsky was on the floor at CES and got a chance to chat with Allergen Alert's representatives. The device isn't yet available for purchase, but it's already being used in trials by professional chefs to help detect allergens in food before it leaves the kitchen.
Allergen Alert is a spin-off of bioMérieux, an in vitro diagnostics company that has been working in clinical microbiology, infectious disease testing and food safety since 1963. Codeveloped with allergists and food safety experts, the device isn't just for people with food allergies, but also for restaurants, hotels, caterers, schools, hospitals and travel companies.
Food allergies are often serious, causing many to operate with the anxiety that no matter how vigilant they are, they may still end up consuming an allergen. A tool like Allergen Alert could be a game-changer for the food industry, especially since it fits right in your pocket.
To become an early adopter or receive a promotional demo of Allergen Alert, you can sign up here.