Pediatric Food Allergies Are on the Rise

Between 1997 and 2007, the number of children in the U.S. with food allergies rose an astonishing 18%. The number seeking hospital treatment for food allergies has tripled since 1993. Clearly, something is going on here.

There are several theories about the rise in allergic conditions. The Hygiene Hypothesis is currently one of the most popular. It is based on the premise that children today have a tendency to develop many more allergies because they are being raised in much more sterile environments, compared to conditions several years ago. Further, the Hypothesis claims that children raised in cleaner environments don't develop the same immune system strength, which puts them more at risk when it comes to foods, dust and mold. Though there are several studies that support this supposition, there is still not enough evidence to confirm the findings.

I find it surprising that today, the only real treatment for food allergies is to avoid them. This can be rather difficult when it comes to ingredients that are commonly found in a variety of foods, like wheat or corn. Parents have got to have the tools needed to make it easier to read labels & the nutrition panel and must feel comfortable quizzing knowledgeable restaurant personnel before ordering for their kids. As labeling continues to increase, this becomes much easier for the parents.

Until we know without a doubt what accounts for the increase in incidences, parents must handle this issue at they see fit and the food industry must continue to develop in their ability to deliver awareness to the consumer.
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