One in 12 US kids might have a food allergy, survey shows

According to a news study published in Pediatrics, one in 12 kids in the United States might have a food allergy, and more than one-third of them have severe allergies. What’s more, allergies are more common in the children of minority groups. Previous studies estimated that between two and eight per cent of kids had a food allergy, but most were based on studies asking lots of different health questions, not just about allergies. This study focused solely on the rate and severity of food allergies, surveying a representative sample of almost 40,000 adults who lived with a kid under 18. The results showed that 8 per cent of kids had a diagnosed food allergy or symptoms that indicated one, most commonly to peanuts, milk, and shellfish.

Reuters