The Top Eight

While it is possible to be allergic to nearly any food imaginable, 90% of food allergy reactions in the United States involve one of the following:

• Milk
• Egg
• Peanut
• Treenut
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Wheat
• Soy

According to the AAAAI, out of the eight common allergens listed above, milk is the most common childhood food allergy affecting 2.5% of children under the age of 3.  Egg is the next most common childhood food allergy affecting 1.5-3.2% of children. Peanut allergies and tree nut allergies each affect 1.2% of the population. Shellfish affects 1.4%, fish affects 0.5%, soy and wheat allergies affect 0.4% of children.

A study published in 2003 by the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that food allergy prevalence seems to be increasing.  The study estimated about 8% of children in the U.S. have at least one food allergy.  That means about one out of every 12 children has a food allergy.

An estimated 30% of children with food allergies have more than one allergy.  A child can have any combination of allergies, making it particularly difficult to navigate around offending foods.  Our family works around milk, egg, peanut and tree nut allergies, which is the primary focus of this blog.  Although I hope everyone struggling with food allergies will find some helpful ideas and information here.