Just Over 3% of Americans May Suffer from Food Allergies

A review of nearly three million medical records identified more than 97,000 patients who suffered from one or more food allergies or food intolerance. The researchers found that the most common allergy was to shellfish, such as shrimp and lobster. Other common food allergies included fruits, vegetables, dairy, and peanuts. These food allergies can lead to potentially life-threatening reactions such as hives, anaphylaxis, shortness of breath, wheezing, itching, swelling, or other allergic-like reactions called intolerances. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, May 2017