Why are Food Allergies on the Rise?

Have you ever noticed that when we were growing up very few children had allergies, yet today it seems as though every child suffers from them? What is causing this dramatic increase in food allergies? With my mother being a kindergarten teacher, I have noticed throughout the years that more and more children are affected by allergies. This rise in allergies correlates with a growth in hospital visits due to allergic reactions. Why are allergies rising so rapidly, and what can we do to halt the incline?

According to the Food Allergy Research and Education, or FARE, roughly 15 million Americans have food allergies, and one in every thirteen children suffers from allergies. Based on a study conducted in 2013 by the CDC, food allergies in children increased by nearly 50% from 1997 to 2011. Even though more people have allergies than ever before, eight foods account for 90% of all allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. It seems as though the most common allergy is peanuts, and there is evidence to support this statement. Based on multiple studies, the number of children who suffer from peanut allergies has tripled between 1997 and 2008. Typically, peanut allergies last for the entire span of the individual’s life. On the other hand, allergies to milk, eggs, and soy are commonly outgrown.

One explanation for the increase in allergies is genetics. On average, children have a 1 in 5 predisposition of having an allergy. The rate increases by 50% if one parent has an allergy, and anywhere from 60%-80% if both parents have allergies. The more allergies people develop, the greater the chances their child will acquire one as well. This steadily increases the number of people with allergies, and can do so exponentially.

Another potential cause for the increase in allergies is the hygiene hypothesis. The hygiene hypothesis blames the rise in allergies on a majority of people moving from rural farm areas with a lot of animals, to urban areas where interaction with animals other than house pets is minimal. In recent years, food preparation has become more sanitary and hygienic than ever before. Even though this may be a good thing in some aspects, it also prevents us from being exposed to microbial agents, as well as plant derived agents. Studies show that children who have steady interaction with farm animals have a much lower risk of allergies than those children who live in cities.

One of the seemingly obvious causes for the rise in allergies is changes in our diet. It is no secret that these days our meals consist of more processed foods, and less fruit and vegetables. Key nutrients from these healthy foods are vital to proper growth and development in young children. Absence of these foods could potentially lead to allergies.

While the evidence is clear that allergies in children are rising rapidly, there is no direct answer regarding why. Scientists and nutritionists have numerous different theories about the issue, as well as potential ways to stop the increase. However, it is very likely that there are a multitude of causes impacting the rise of allergies, as opposed to just one sole source. Therefore, is it realistically possible to stop the rising of allergies, or will we only be able to slow it down?

2 thoughts on “Why are Food Allergies on the Rise?

  1. Meghan Kelly Shiels

    I was curious about this topic so I decided to do a little research of my own. It turns out that food allergies are also increasing in severity as well. According to this PBS interview and study, 40% of kids with a food allergy are severely allergic. Once I discovered this, I began to wonder if this could be a new evolutionary development in humans. If food is limited and people can only eat certain foods without dying, doesn’t that mean that as populations expand people with food allergies won’t survive the “survival of the fittest?” Obviously I’m taking this example to the extreme, but it is an interesting concept to think about it. What if the thing that ends the human race is already within us?

  2. Shannon G Mcclain

    It is strange that more and more children seem to be having more and more allergies. I think another possible reason for this could be over protective parents. For example, I babysit for a family that takes every possible precaution necessary to protect their children, and I mean everything. Their obsession with keeping the children healthy and safe, may be hurting them. They don’t build up as many immunities to certain things, which I believe is the case with the farm animals as you mentioned, and they may develop allergies, something the parents certainly didn’t intend to happen. I think they need to try to find a balance between foods, activities, etc. in order to potentially avoid allergies.

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