Portable peanut sensor tests food to help allergy sufferers
The Nima Peanut Sensor is designed to let users who may be allergic to peanuts test their food for peanuts “anytime, anywhere.” Announced in January, the palm-sized Bluetooth-enabled device features a small display, a power button, and an opening into which a testing capsule containing a food sample is placed.
To conduct a test, users place a pea-size sample of food into a capsule, seal it by screwing on the cap, insert the capsule into the detector, and press the power button on the unit. If the device detects peanuts in the food sample, a peanut icon will be shown on the display, otherwise a smiley face icon will appear indicating that the food sample has less than 20 parts per million of peanut.
Testing a food sample takes about three minutes, and results can be viewed and shared via an Android or iOS app. According to the company, the device can detect peanuts at a 99% accuracy, but is not meant as a replacement for an EpiPen.
“Nima is not designed to replace your EpiPen,” says Shireen Yates, CEO and co-founder of Nima. “As a person with allergies, it’s still important to do your due diligence and keep your EpiPen on hand for emergencies. Nima is designed to provide one additional data point about your food to help users make a more informed decision before they take the first bite.”
Some foods, says the company, have increased risk of false readings and shouldn’t be tested. These include sesame seeds, cayenne, paprika, tamarind, tomato paste or sauce, eggplant, solid chocolate, and alcohol.
The Peanut Sensor is the company’s second allergan detector device. The first was a nearly identical looking gluten detector, which was announced in 2015 and became available last year.
The Nima Peanut Sensor starter kit including the sensor and 12 test capsules costs $290, while twelve-pack capsules cost $72 each. The company says it has already shipped the device to buyers who pre-ordered it.
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