Food Allergy Awareness
Are food allergies really on the rise? Well it is estimated that up to 6 percent of young children and 3-4 percent of adults in our country have food allergies. There are recent studies looking at a rise in the prevalence of food allergies over the past several decades. In fact, the rate of peanut allergy doubled in children over a five year period. In one study, only half the adults affected with severe food-allergic reactions sought any evaluation of this condition by a medical professional.
Over the years, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) have been at the forefront of progress in food allergy research. Findings from research studies have been used to change federal and state laws, improve school policies, raise public awareness, improve the daily lives of individuals with food allergy, and provide education for patients, caregivers and health care providers.
One recent study looked at the failure of many schools throughout the country in having a food allergy action plan in place for food-allergic children, as well as ways to improve on them, by working with your local allergist.
In 1997, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) created Food Allergy Awareness Week to educate others about food allergies. Spread the word about the 12th annual Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW), May 10-16, 2009. This year help those with food allergies “Take Action, Prevent Reactions.” Mark the week this year by working to increase awareness at schools, talk to your elected representatives, and plan a fundraiser. You can hand out fliers, put up posters, or display educational materials. Make it a time to learn more about food allergies and prevention strategies, as well as preparedness at home, at school and at camp.
FAAN has also promoted the “Be a PAL: Protect A Life™ From Food Allergies” program that is designed to educate parents and educators, and teach students about food allergies and how to help their friends and classmates who may have food allergies.
The basic tenets of the PAL program designed to keep food-allergic kids safer are:
- Food allergies are serious. Don’t make jokes about them.
- Don’t share food with friends who have food allergies.
- Wash your hands after eating.
- Ask what your friends are allergic to, and help them avoid it.
- If a friend who has food allergies becomes ill, get help immediately!
And lastly, FAAN is also sponsoring a Food Allergy Walk this year in a community near you. The goals of this program are to increase awareness of food allergy. The walk is “to provide understanding, hope and an opportunity for a child with food allergy to simply be a child!”
Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine. He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. No information in this blog is intended as medical advice to any reader or intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Thanks for writing about this. My child lives with life threatening allergies everyday. If people were more educated her life would be easier. As a teacher I have seen a rise in students with allergies as well. They deserve to have respect for their disability.Many times people think I am making it up or being over protective. I do not care anymore what people think just as long as they make the necessary accomdations. Thanks for making people more aware with this article.
Thanks for raising awareness on this. I am an adult with multiple food allergies and sensitivities. My daughter also had one and adults were always telling her to drink her milk. Fortunately, neither mine nor hers are life threatening, but I can sympathize with those who are. Probably the worst problem is in the hospital. Dieticians and their helpers need to become more aware. Thank you for helping.
My wife and I both suffer with food allergies in addition to more common allergies (pollen, dander) but we have never sought treatment since our reactions are mild compared to some. Mostly our lips swell, we develop hives, our mouths and throats itch. We developed these allergies in adulthood and they happen to be to things that we enjoy eating. My allergy to most tree nuts (but not peanuts or cashews for some reason) and most fruits has impacted my diet in that I can no longer enjoy foods I previously loved such as pecan pie, peaches, banana pudding, applesauce and more. My wife is currently avoiding milk products because of a recent increase in bloating and nausea when consumed and also has severe reactions to seafood and shellfish. My wifes reaction to shellfish is so bad that if food comes into contact with shellfish such as mozzarella sticks fried in the same oil as shrimp will cause a reaction.
What bothers me is that over time the range of foods that I have reactions to is increasing. I never know from one day to the next what food is going to provoke a response. At one time I could enjoy fresh strawberries, but lately they have begun to upset my stomach. That is usually the first sign that I am developing an allergy to a food.
My wish is that since this sort of allergy seems to be increasing that more research would be done to find a cause and treatment so that my wife and I can once again enjoy our meals again. Maybe one day but for now we just grin and bear it.
RayB — your wish is already here, but you won’t hear about it from any mainstream news source. Google NAET — it’s non-invasive allergy elimination. My entire family, including my infants, have used it.
RayB — Google NAET. Your wish is already here.
Ray B.. .it sounds like maybe you have Oral Allergy Syndrome? (dont hold me to it though; i’m not a doctor!
) .. i’ve been to a few allergists who say there’s nothing really you can do about it. Apparently people who have severe pollen allergies get it. some tips though – peel the skin off of fruits (e.g apples, pears..), and also microwaving the foods if you can. Raw fruits, nuts and vegetables can cause problems, but not when they are cooked. Some food allergies have been linked to different pollen allergies. for instance, if you have an allergy to grass pollen you may have an allergic reaction to melons, tomatoes and oranges. Unfortunately I was allergy tested and showed an allergy for every single weed, tree and plant they tested me for! Good luck!
I just found out today that the bread I am buying that I thought did not contain sesame, DOES. Usually, the package says “may contain sesame etc.” . I looked on the bottom of the roll and saw tons of sesame seeds. I am so alarmed that this bread company can sell them with out disclosing that they may contain them. Does anyone know the laws regarding this issue? I ‘d like to feed my daughter food that won’t make her sick…it’s difficult to do this.
Many misconceptions about food allergies. First an upset stomach doesn’t indicate a food allergy, just an intolerance. If you have a spastic bowel, you need more fiber. You have to go slowly,weeks. Blood tests for food allergies and inhaled allergens are worthless. For inhaled allergens you need skin testing as well as correlation. Food allergies need a direct food challenge. Food allergies can be manifested by hives, angioedema, which is swollen lips or throat, or eosinophilic gastro-enteriteis(rare), or weight loss. NO ONE is allergic to everything, but if your system is spastic or intolerant; then other things will bother you. Soy is the most difficult thing that humans eat; it has a high concentration of a vegetable starch, raffinose. This is high in asparagus, brocholi and less in beans. Raw or under-cookecd these are much more difficult to digest. The treatment is avoidance or liquid Beano which is a natural product that aids digestion. Adults rarely get an allergy to milk but rather an intolerance. We all have it. One might get it after a spoonful, another only after 20 glasses. You body secretes an enzyme into the gut to split lactose, the milk sugar, into 2 other sugars. Then and only then can the body digest the milk. You then have to avoid or use Lactaid milk (predigested). We secrete less of this after illness, or with aging. Changes in our diet are hard on the gut.
John MD
After an extensive process of elimination, I finally discovered soy as my food enemy. I was suffering from fatigue to cycstic acne and had no idea why. Since ridding myself of soy, the results are nothing short of amazing. This is an ingredient that is in everything. It’s also interesting how people often overlook it.
I suffer from food allergies that seemed to begin after a CT scan and other tests. Something in the dye they injected into me may have been the trigger. Trying to find exactly what it is that makes me ill is extremely difficult, but I have narrowed it down a bit. MSG is the common additive in every food that causes stomach pains, diarrhea, nausea and a major breakout on my forehead and cheeks. If many foods make you sick, you may find that MSG (monosodium glutamate) is the reason.
Thank you for making this an issue of concern. Several of my family members have fairly severe food allergies and find it very difficult to eat outside the home. Many people, and I’m ashamed to say, many restaurants don’t take them seriously when they explain they have food allergies so please don’t cross contaminate the food. They have had reactions due to carelessness in public food estabishments. Fortunately not very serious…yet.
Kay…
Found your post Thursday, Jengates Blog ” Blog Archive ” links for 2009-04-08. Are you sure this is correct? All allergies are different….