05/09/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/07/2021 18:12
In 2022, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a report stating 15 million people in the U.S. were suffering from one or more food allergies, which was a massive increase (up over 50%) since 1997. Today, just 10 years later, the estimated number of those affected is approximately 32 million people.
Diving into the major allergens affecting Americans, it is no stretch to call what is happening in America a public health crisis or as FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) has called it, 'The Food Allergy Epidemic.' Today 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children have a food allergy. These numbers are staggering! To learn more, check out this infographic from FARE with more information. Finally, for information pertaining to allergens, such as top sources in the diet and how to recognize the symptoms from exposure, visit 'FAACT's'(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team) website or this fact sheet.
One of the reasons for the increased number of individuals with food allergies is the direct result of additional diagnostic options today. As science evolves there are multiple ways to determine if a person does have a food allergic reaction, such as skin testing, blood tests, oral challenges, and elimination diets to name a few. It is worth noting there are at least 7 diagnostic methods that are considered controversial. For more information on these methods visit FARE's website. Newly diagnosed? I have found this resource from FAACT to be extremely helpful.