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Understanding Food Allergies: Essential Information and Statistics for Awareness and Safety

Food allergies affect nearly 12 million Americans, leading to 50,000 emergency room visits annually. Common triggers include cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts. Reactions can range from mild symptoms, like itchy eyes and abdominal cramps, to severe responses resulting in shock or unconsciousness. Prevention requires strict avoidance of allergens and vigilance in reading labels. Educate yourself about food allergy management and treatment options, including antihistamines and EpiPens for severe reactions. Stay safe by always checking ingredient labels!

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Understanding Food Allergies: Essential Information and Statistics for Awareness and Safety

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  1. FOOD ALLERGIES What You Need To Know

  2. Incidendence • 50 million Americans suffer from all types of allergies • Indoor/outdoor • Food & Drug • Latex • Insect • Skin • Eye Resource: Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

  3. Incidence • 12 million Americans have food allergy • 50,000 emergency room visits yearly • Accidental exposures are the major causes of allergic reactions to foods • 50 % of subjects in the United States with food allergy have an allergic reaction to accidental exposure   Resource: Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

  4. Mortality • Accounts for…. • 200 deaths for food allergies FYI • 100 deaths for insect allergies Resource: Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

  5. 8 Common Food’s Cause 90% of the allergic reactions in the United States • Cow's milk • Eggs • Peanuts • Wheat • Soy • Fish • Shellfish • Tree nuts

  6. Cause of Food Allergies • Allergic reactions happen when the immune system overreacts to normally harmless protein substances such as pollen, dust mites, food, insect stings, latex, and drugs.

  7. Causes of Food Allergy • immune system produces antibodies in response to foreign substances in an effort to protect the body from harm.

  8. Mild Food-Allergic Reaction • Respiratory tract: • Itchy, watery eyes, running or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, itching or swelling of the lips, wheezing • GI tract: • abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea • Skin: • hives, eczema, itchy red rash, swelling Symptoms sometimes progress rapidly to Severe Reactions

  9. Severe Food-Allergic Reaction • Respiratory • shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness, tingling of the mouth, itching or swelling of the mouth or throat, change in voice • Cardiovascular • Drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness/fainting, shock

  10. Prevention • Strict avoidance of that food • Constant vigilance • Just one little bite can hurt!

  11. Causes of Accidental Exposures • Not reading ingredient label to be sure food is allergen-free • Food trading • Inaccurate labeling • Contamination from other foods from improperly cleaned utensils and table surfaces

  12. Causes of Accidental Exposures • Allergic Reactions can occur through different contact • Smell • Touch • Taste

  13. Food Allergy Facts • The same food can cause different symptoms from one person to another • Not all people with food allergies have severe reactions • Some mild reactions may become severe • A food allergy management plan is needed for all persons with a food allergy

  14. Common Treatments • Mild Reaction • Antihistamines • Benadryl • Zyrtec • Severe Reaction • Epinephrine (Epi-Pen) • Antihistamine (i.e. Benadryl) • Counteracts the histamine reaction

  15. Onset of Reaction Within seconds up to 4 hours

  16. Legal • 2006 Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) • food labels are required to state clearly whether the food contains a "major food allergen

  17. However…. • Who notifies the public that ingredients have changed? No one…. You must ALWAYS read the Labels….ALWAYS

  18. References • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/ • Bren, L. (2006, March). Food labels identify allergens more clearly. FDA Consumer, 40(2), 37-38. Retrieved September 23, 2009, from CINAHL database.

  19. References • Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America --http://www.aafa.org/

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