Food Allergies Are On The Rise

According to The New York Times, food allergies are far more complicated than we once thought. Jane E. Brody’s grandson, Tomas, is allergic to hazelnuts and raw carrots. Not because they are botanically similar, but because they both “share a protein with birch pollen.” However, Tomas is not allergic to a number of other foods containing birch pollen like apples, celery, potatoes, and peaches. 

“This type of allergy is believed to start with sensitization to inhalation of the offending pollen that later results in an allergic reaction when the food protein is consumed,” explains Brody. 

While pollen-food allergies are not always serious, other food allergies can be. Milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, soy, wheat, and sesame (known as the ‘Big 9’) make up 90 percent of food allergy reactions in the United States. However, sesame is not going to be required to be listed as an allergen on foods until 2023, despite causing serious (or sometimes fatal) allergic reactions. 

Today’s eating habits are feeding this allergy epidemic. As people eat more meals outside the home, the control families have on what goes into their food decreases. Brody knows of one family with a child who has severe peanut, tree nut, and sesame allergies. They only eat in restaurants serving cuisine that typically does not use the ingredients. To stay extra safe, the family always alerts the kitchen and carries an EpiPen with them just in case. 

While infants and young children may grow out of milk, egg, wheat, or soy allergies, other Big 9 allergies are lifelong. “Remarkably, approximately half of U.S. food-allergic adults report developing at least one of their food allergies during adulthood, with shellfish allergy responsible for the largest number of such cases,” says Icahn School of Medicine allergist, Dr. Scott H. Sicherer. 

It’s now recommended that children are introduced to highly allergic food at around 6 months to protect them from developing an allergy in the future. Previously, allergy-prone families were told to avoid the allergen until the child was 3, which may have contributed to the spike in peanut allergies. 

Related Content:

• Your Guide to Natural Plant-Based Treatments For Fall Allergies
• Don’t Go Nuts! These 15 Vegan Recipes are Nut-Free and Delicious
• President Biden Adds Sesame to Food Allergens List
• The Connection Between Seasonal Allergies, Climate Change, and Mental Health
• Climate Change Contributing to Longer Pollen Seasons and Rise in Allergies

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