Finding out if the food you're eating contains anything you're allergic to could soon be as easy as turning on your mobile phone.
A team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has developed a lightweight device called the iTube, which attaches to a common mobile phone to detect allergens in food samples - as accurately as if done in a lab.
The iTube uses the phone's built-in camera and an accompanying application that runs an allergen test.
Food intolerances affect about one in 20 local schoolchildren - with shrimp being the main culprit - according to a study by Chinese University last year. Other studies show as many as 8 per cent of young children and 2 per cent of adults have some reaction to foods, which could cause severe and even life-threatening reactions.
While laws regulate the labelling of ingredients in pre-packaged foods, cross-contaminations can still occur during processing, manufacturing and transport.
Devices to detect allergens in food are typically complex and bulky, making them ill-suited for use in public settings. The iTube weighs less than 60 grams.