Some companies are designing allergy testing devices that can test the food you eat

Torrey Freeman said it happens all the time-- she orders food she's told is gluten free but still ends up getting sick because she has Celiac Disease.

"Just going on someone's word is really scary."

Now, whenever Freeman eats out, she carries a device designed to test for gluten called a Nima Sensor.

"Having this sensor gives me that peace of mind when I test the food."

There are several gluten testing kits on the market. If you're concerned about airborne allergens, the Tzoa "Enviro-Tracker" measures air quality to help you avoid pollution.

A prototype of the Allergy Amulet-- slated to hit the market next year, is currently being tested. You wear it around your neck and it uses a disposable strip to test for traces of peanuts, tree nuts, and dairy in food.

"Within a minute, it will tell the user if a presence or absence of the allergen is detected," said Meg Nohe, Allergy Amulet.

Nohe has a child with peanut allergies-- she helped develop the allergy amulet.

"When other people are preparing your food, you don't know what's on their hands, you don't know what countertop it's touched or you can't read the labels. So, that's really where the Allergy Amulet is going to be a huge benefit."

The co-founder of the Food Allergy Science Initiative said she sees these devices as promising-- but would like to see "real validation studies" to prove their effectiveness.

Both Nima Sensor and the Allergy Amulet say third-party testing is in the works.

The allergy group also cautions about "cross-contamination" issues and possible "human error". Nohe agrees a tester is only one tool in the safety tool belt.

"It's important for users to think of it as a supplement and not a substitute to what I would say are the standard precautionary measures."

Freeman is careful, but loves her sensor.

"To save me from being sick when I'm out with my children or my family and traveling is such a wonderful thing."

The sensors we looked at range in price from $100 to nearly $300 and some require test strips, which are sold separately.