Food Allergies Essay

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There was a time when a child could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without fear. Today, too many children take a trip to the emergency room if they consume a single peanut. Have food allergies actually increased or is our society just more aware of it in today’s world?

According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), peanut allergies are growing at an alarming rate, nearly tripling among children in the U.S. between 1999 and 2011. Unlike many other food allergies, peanut allergies are typically lifelong. Doctors say a growing number of children are allergic, not just to peanuts but to a wide range of foods. Eight foods or food groups account for 90% of serious allergic reactions in the United States: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean …show more content…
Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to this question. There are several popular theories for the increase in food allergies. The University of Nebraska Food Allergy Research & Resource Program gives some insight. One theory asserts that children in industrialized countries live in overly clean environments and are not exposed to enough bacteria. Immune systems develop when we’re exposed to germs and infections in our early infancy. If the immune system is weak, the system of the body that attacks allergens may overcompensate and react to harmless foods like peanuts or dairy giving children severe allergies. It’s been very well noted that in societies where hygiene is not that high, there is a lower prevalence of food allergies.

Another theory based on a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggests eating peanuts in infancy could actually help babies avoid developing a peanut allergy. There is a lot of emphasis today on avoiding solid foods and weaning babies a little bit later in life. While it seems like a good idea to avoid allergens in food, that may not be the best course. Early introduction of certain kinds of solid foods into the baby's diet may actually promote tolerance of those foods, rather than the development of food
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