THE FACTS ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES

By DONNA KOEHN OF THE TAMPA TRIBUNE | Tbo.com
Published: October 28, 2007

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• The incidence of food allergy in the United States has doubled in the past 10 years. No one knows why.
• More than 12 million Americans have food allergies. That's one in 25 people.
• One in 17 children younger than 3 has allergies.
• Eight foods account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.
• There is no cure.
• Even trace amounts of food allergen can cause a reaction.
• Most people who have had an allergic reaction to something they ate thought it was safe.
Source: The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

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