Allergen Alert Launches Portable Device for Rapid Allergen Detection

Allergen Alert, a French startup spun out of bioMérieux in 2024, has unveiled a portable device designed to detect gluten and common food allergens in meals. The device operates like a “mini lab,” analysing samples in a single-use pouch using immunoassay technology, with results displayed on a screen within minutes.

The company is showcasing the device publicly for the first time at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Allergen Alert raised €3.6 million ($4.2 million) in October 2025 from the Metropolitan Industrial Seed Fund and bioMérieux to support development.

Targeting the tourism and hospitality industries, the device is expected to be available for pre-order by the end of 2026. Initially, specific allergens detected have not been disclosed, but the startup aims to cover the nine major allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame) within three years, with potential expansion for additional food service and healthcare needs.

Currently, few commercial alternatives exist, with most comparable technologies still in research or prototype stages.

05-01-2026