Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFood Allergies OverviewHow Common?EthnicityAge and GenderCauses and Risk FactorsMortality RatesScreeningNext in Food Allergies GuideWhat Are Food Allergies?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Food Allergies Overview
How Common?
Ethnicity
Age and Gender
Causes and Risk Factors
Mortality Rates
Screening
Next in Food Allergies Guide
Food allergiesoccur when the body mistakenly identifies a food as a threat, triggering an immune system response.
This article highlights important facts and statistics you should know about food allergies.
michellegibson / Getty Images
Afood allergyoccurs when your immune system reacts to specific proteins in food, calledallergens.Symptoms of a food allergycan range from a mild, itchy sensation inside the mouth to a life-threatening condition calledanaphylaxis.
What Is Anaphylaxis?Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening reaction that can happen within minutes of exposure to a trigger food. Symptoms include trouble swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.
What Is Anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening reaction that can happen within minutes of exposure to a trigger food. Symptoms include trouble swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.
How Common Are Food Allergies?
Food allergies affect 1 in 13 children and 1 in 10 adults. Around 32 million people in the United States have a food allergy.
11 of the Most Common Food Intolerances
According to an analysis of epidemiological data, 2.9 million non-White children have a food allergy compared to 2.7 million White children.The prevalence of food allergies in children has increased at a rate of 2.1% per decade among Black children, 1.2% per decade among Hispanic children, and 1 % per decade among White children.
Black children are two times more likely than White children to have more than one food allergy. Black children also have significantly higher rates offish allergiesandshellfish allergiesthan White children.
Hispanic and Black children have higher rates of diet-induced anaphylaxis and emergency room visits than White children. This suggests these populations may experience more severe reactions compared to other ethnic groups.
One study also found that White adults have lower rates of food allergy than Hispanic adults, Asian adults, Black adults, and adults of biracial origin.
The 9 Most Common Food Allergies
While most food allergies are first diagnosed in childhood, approximately 15% are diagnosed in adulthood.
Between 1997 and 2008, peanut andtree nut allergiesmore than tripled among children in the United States.
Causes of Food Allergies and Risk Factors
With food allergies, the immune system senses a certain food or something in the food as a harmful invader and overreacts, producingimmunoglobulin E(IgE) antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells where chemicals are released, triggering an allergic reaction.
Children with an existing food allergy are twice as likely to have other conditions, such aseczemaor asthma, compared to those who do not have a food allergy.Studies show that early introduction to potential allergens can decrease the risk of a food allergy.
Other food allergy risk factors include:
Causes and Risk Factors of Food Allergies
The Most Common Food AllergiesThese allergens make up 90% of allergic food reactions in the United States:MilkEggsFishWheatShellfishPeanutsSoybeansTree nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)Sesame
The Most Common Food Allergies
These allergens make up 90% of allergic food reactions in the United States:MilkEggsFishWheatShellfishPeanutsSoybeansTree nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)Sesame
These allergens make up 90% of allergic food reactions in the United States:
What Are the Mortality Rates for Food Allergies?
Although life-threatening and fatal reactions can occur from exposure to food allergens, it is rare. According to one study, less than 1 out of 100,000 people will die from a food allergy.
Not treating anaphylaxis quickly withepinephrinecan increase the risk of mortality.
Routine screening for food allergies using a skin test or IgE blood test before a person ingests the allergen is generally discouraged. This is because there is a high risk of false-positive results.
Although testing is reliable when symptoms are present, reliability declines when the tests are used as a screening tool.
If you are reluctant to introduce certain foods to your child due to a family history of food allergies or any other reason, it is always a safe choice to see acertified allergistfor proper testing and evaluation.
The Difference Between Blood Tests and Skin Tests for Allergies
Summary
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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