Over the past 25 years food allergies have skyrocketed to become a major health issue affecting 220 million people globally.
Food Allergies cost the U.S. economy $24.8 billion a year and have created a “free-from” food industry at $12 billion, yet there is only $76 million in public research funding (NIH) to address it.
Prevalence
- 220 million affected globally
- 32 million affected in the U.S.
- 1 in 12 children diagnosed in the U.S.
- over 50% of adults report developing at least one food allergy after the age of 18
- number of people with a peanut allergy quadrupled between 1997-2010
Reactions
- Every 2-3 minutes there is an ER visit from food induced anaphylaxis
- 40% of children with food allergies experience a life threatening reaction
- 265% increase in rates of hospitalizations related to food allergic reactions in ten-year period
- 377% increase in insurance claims with diagnoses of anaphylactic food reactions 2007-2016
Costs
- $4,184 cost per child per year
- $24.8 billion cost to U.S. economy
- Cost of epinephrine increased 514% 2007-2016
Allergens
- Over 160 foods can cause allergic reactions in people with food allergies.
- The top 8 most common allergenic foods account for 90% of reactions and are sources from which other ingredients are derived: Eggs, Fish, Milk, Peanuts, Shellfish, Soybeans, Tree Nuts, and Wheat. Others such as sesame and mustard are growing.