FOOD ALLERGY FACTS

Did you know that eight foods account for 90 percent of food allergies?
These foods are peanuts and tree nuts (walnuts and cashews, for example), fish and shellfish, milk, eggs, wheat and soy. What’s more, the number of reported cases of food allergies has increased in recent years, with peanut allergygetting a lot of attention.

More facts about food allergies:

Fact: Food allergy is an immune response to a food that the body senses
is harmful. The resulting symptoms can affect the respiratory system,
gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system.

Fact: Some people are so sensitive that they can react to food particles that
become airborne when food is being cooked or peanut shells are opened.

Fact: In the U.S., food allergy occurs in 6 to 8 percent of children under
age 4, and in less than 4 percent of adults. While it isn’t common, it can be serious.