Nothing to Sneeze at: The Rise in Food Allergies

The decades long rise in food allergies is serious, but there are ways to protect yourself and your family.

If it appears that people are concerned about food allergies more than ever, that’s for good reason. Food allergies have been on the rise for decades. In fact, according to non-profit Food Allergy Research and Education organization (FARE), between 2007 and 2021, the prevalence of food allergies among children has increased by 50 percent. According to the group, the incidence of peanut allergy in one-year-olds tripled between 2001 and 2017.

Why is the prevalence of food allergies rising?

The scientific and medical communities are not certain of the exact cause of such a rapid increase, however, there are several theories. For example, the hygiene hypothesis suggests that modern living environments, which are much cleaner and have fewer infections, might contribute to an increase in allergies. Proponents of this theory point to the fact that children in rural areas and those with siblings and pets tend to have a lower incidence of allergies, presumably due to greater exposure to bacteria. Others suspect that diets high in processed foods, fats, and sugars, may result in a less diverse gut microbiome and immune dysregulation, potentially leading to allergies.

Can you grow out of food allergies?

Some children outgrow allergies to milk, egg, wheat, and soy, though allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish among others generally last lifelong.

What treatments are available for food allergies?

Just this year, the FDA approved XOLAIR® (omalizumab) to treat food allergy in people 1 year of age and older to reduce allergic reactions that may occur after accidentally eating one or more foods to which a patient is allergic.

How can you protect yourself from food allergies?

First, consult with your doctor. There are a variety of tests that can be performed to identify foods you or your child may be allergic to. Your doctor can also tell you whether you should be taking a medication to reduce your risk of an allergic reaction and what to do should you experience one.

Next, read labels. Packaged foods are required to list potential allergens, and you should take advantage of this information. 

Finally, eat well, get plenty of sleep and have an exercise routine that is appropriate for your age and health. Although this may not prevent you or your children from having allergies or addressing an allergic reaction, these steps are essential to good overall health and our ability to avoid, manage and recover from many common conditions.

References:

https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics#:~:text=Food%20allergy%20prevalence%20among%20children,tripled%20between%201997%20and%202008

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/latest-research-summaries/the-journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology/2019/environment#:~:text=The%20rural%20community%20was%20strongly,of%20the%20other%20allergic%20diseases!

https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/latest-research-summaries/the-journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology/2023-the-journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunolog/sibling#:~:text=For%20more%20than%20three%20decades,measure%20the%20baby's%20gut%20bacteria.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12431192/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9670314/#:~:text=As%20one%20of%20the%20proxies,NHANES%20between%202005%20and%202006.

https://health.osu.edu/wellness/exercise-and-nutrition/how-to-know-youve-outgrown-a-food-allergy#:~:text=Egg%2C%20milk%2C%20soy%20and%20wheat,them%2C%20usually%20by%20age%2016.

https://www.xolair.com/

https://acaai.org/allergies/testing-diagnosis/food-allergy-testing-and-diagnosis/