An allergy to peanuts can have a big impact on a person's life, due to its potential inclusion in many foods. Now a new study has found that surfaces which come into contact with the food must be cleaned properly to remove the risk of a reaction.

While it is unknown how many people in Ireland have peanut allergies, these are responsible for the majority of fatal food-related anaphylaxis (serious and rapid allergic reactions).

According to Canadian researchers, while exposure to even small amounts of peanut can cause a serious reaction, common cleaning agents ‘can easily remove peanut allergen from surfaces such as table tops'.

However they pointed out that the parents of children with these allergies often ask if peanut allergen can persist on a surface if it has not been cleaned.

They decided to investigate this further. They smeared 5ml of peanut butter on a section of a laminated plastic table surface. The table was then kept in a hospital office at room temperature and with normal ambient lighting.

The table was not cleaned for 110 days. Samples from the table were taken regularly during this period.

The researchers noted that there was no detectable peanut allergen before the peanut butter was applied. However, the allergen was detected every single day of the 110 days after application. In fact, there was ‘no obvious allergen degradation over time'.

The researchers pointed out that ‘active cleaning of the contaminated surface with a commercial cleaning wipe resulted in no detectable allergen'.

They concluded that peanut allergen ‘is very robust'.

"Active cleaning of peanut contaminated surfaces easily removed peanut residue and allergen. Regular cleaning of surfaces before and after eating should be reinforced as a safety measure for all individuals with peanut allergy," they added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology.