FoodAllergyFactsandStatisticsfortheU.S.PDFVIP

Food Allergy Facts and Statistics for the U.S. • Food allergy is a growing public health concern. • As many as 15 million people have food allergies. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 o An estimated 9 million, or 4%, of adults have food allergies. 2, 3, 5 o Nearly 6 million or 8% of children have food allergies with young children affected most.3, 4, 6, 7, 8 • Boys appear to develop food allergies more than girls. 5 • Food allergies may be a trigger for or associated with other allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis9 and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. 10 11 12 13 14 • Although childhood allergies to milk , egg , wheat and soy generally resolve in childhood, they appear to be resolving more slowly than in previous decades, with many children still allergic beyond age 5 years. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish15 are generally lifelong allergies. Food Allergies are on the Rise • The prevalence of food allergies and associated anaphylaxis appears to be on the rise. 6 o In 2008, the CDC reported an 18 percent increase in food allergy among children between 1997 and 2007.1 o According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011.16 o The economic cost of children’s food allergies is nearly $25 billion per year. 17 Top Food Allergens • Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. 5, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 62