Food allergy prevalence

Food allergy is common in the general population and depending on the study its prevalence varies between 2 and 4% [15]. The rates are much higher if self-reported symptoms are accounted. Food allergy is more frequent in children than in adults... 

The most frequent elicitators of food allergy in children are peanuts and tree nuts [ 17]. In France the prevalence of food allergy has been estimated to be 3.2% [18]. Furthermore, in this study, food was identified as the most common cause of anaphylaxis. Here the major identified food allergens besides peanuts and tree nuts were shellfish, wheat and lupine flour [18]. 

Hourihane, J. O B., Prevalence and severity of food allergy — need for control. Allergy, 53, 84, 1998. 

Ranee et al. (2005) conducted a questionnaire-based survey of food allergy in 2716 school children in France. Four cases of molluscan shellfish allergy were reported to mussels, snails, and oysters among this group. Thus, the self-reported prevalence of molluscan shellfish allergy in this population of children was 0.15%. 

Ranee, F., Grandmottet, X., and Grandjean, H. (2005). Prevalence and main characteristics of schoolchildren diagnosed with food allergies in France. Clin. Exp. Allergy 35,167-172. 

Santadusit, S., Anthapaisalsarudee, S., and Vichyanond, P. (2005). Prevalence of adverse food reactions and food allergy among Thai children. /. Med. Assoc. Thai. 88(Suppl. 8), S27-S32. 

Woods, R. K., Abramson, M., Bailey, M., and Walters, E. H. (2001). International prevalences of reported food allergies and intolerances. Comparisons arising from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) 1991-1994. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 55, 298-304. 

Bircher, A. J., Van Melle, G., Haller, E., Curty, B., Frei, P. C. (1994). IgE to food allergens are highly prevalent in patients allergic to pollens, with and without symptoms of food allergy. Clin. Exp. Allergy, 24, 367-374. 

Eingenmann PA, Sicherer SH, Borkowski TA, et al Prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergy among children with atopic dermatitis. Pediatrics 1998 101/3 E8. 

The actual prevalence of food allergy is lower and seems to range from 1% to 4% of the general population and about 6% of the pediatric population, but it occurs in as much as 25% of children with eczema (Samson 1996, Wuthrich 2000). 

Vierk, K.A., Koehler, K.M., Fein, S.B., and Street, D.A. 2007. Prevalence of self-reported food allergy in American adults and use of food labels. J Allergy Clin Immunol 119 1504-1510. 

Branym, A.M. and Lukacs, S.L. 2008. Food allergy among U.S. children Trends in prevalence and hospitalizations. NCHS data brief no. 10. Hyattsville, MD National Center for Health Statistics, (http //www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db010.pdf)... 

Prevalence of Sensitization to Shellfish in Various Countries among Individuals (Adults and Children) with Food Allergy... 

II. PREVALENCE, MECHANISMS, AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF FOOD ALLERGY... 

In the past few years there has been a huge increase in the number and variety of natural foods products. Once you could find only one brand of organic cheese or pasta sauce, now there are multiple brands with many products prominently displaying that there is no wheat or meat or dairy in the product. This has come about because of the many food allergies that are so prevalent. You may in fact be allergic to peanuts, not uncommon, so knowing that a product contains no peanuts will help keep you safe and healthy. 

Secondary intervention studies are few. A study in Japan [240(Ib)] identified infants at high risk of house dust mite allergy and asthma postnatally, on the basis of early manifestations of atopy (i.e. eczema and food allergy). Children were enrolled during the 1st year of life and randomised to house dust mite prevention which resulted in a substantial reduction in house dust mite allergen levels. At the 1-year follow-up, children in the active treatment group had lower levels of IgE antibody, prevalence of positive skin prick test responses to house dust mite, and lower incidence of wheezing episodes. Follow-up is awaited. 

This list was amended in December 2006 with the addition of mollusks and lupin, as Directive 2006/142/EC, to account for the opinion delivered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) referring to the allergenicity of these foods and the prevalence of such food allergy in European member states. 

Mills C, et al. (2007). The prevalence, cost and basis of food allergy across Europe. Allergy, 62(7) 717-722. 

Several epidemiological surveys have reported data on the prevalence of food allergies in different countries (Table 16.1). However, a comprehensive comparison among individual surveys is difficult because of differences in the study population and lack of standardized survey methodologies [26]. 

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