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NC A&T Close To Developing Allergy-Free Peanuts

Credit: USDA

Science has brought us one step closer to allergy-free peanuts, thanks to work being done at North Carolina A&T University.

Researchers at A&T have patented a process that removes most of the allergens found in peanuts.

The News and Observer of Raleigh reports the method uses simple food-processing equipment, avoiding genetic modification, chemicals or radiation.

Clinical trials are currently underway for Alrgn Bio, a Greensboro-based company.

An Alrgn spokesman says the goal is to make life safer for people with peanut allergies, reducing their risk of exposure.

Scientists say that while there is still a long way to go, this development could be life-changing for the roughly 3 million people who are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts.

More clinical testing will still be required before treated peanuts can be considered safe.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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