An estimated one in 13 Canadians have at least one food allergy, according to a new study expected to help researchers determine whether such allergies are on the rise.
The findings are based on a nationwide survey of more than 15,000 people in 5,734 households, conducted by investigators at AllerGen, a national research network of academics and health specialists dedicated to studying allergic disease, asthma and anaphylaxis.
According to results of the phone survey conducted between 2010 and 2011, 7.5 per cent of Canadians self-reported at least one food allergy, with peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies among the most prevalent.
Those estimates translate to approximately 2.5 million Canadians living with a food allergy, researchers say. Adults reported a slightly higher prevalence of food allergies (7.7 per cent) than children under 18, who came in at 6.9 per cent.
The random, nation-wide phone survey specifically targeted 鈥渧ulnerable Canadian populations鈥� including First Nations, new immigrants and low-income Canadians. The findings were later weighted to reflect the 鈥済eneral population,鈥� researchers say.
Respondents were asked whether they were allergic to any of nine foods.
MOST PREVALENT FOOD ALLERGIES AMONG ADULTS (18 AND OLDER)
1. Shellfish (1.9 per cent)
2. Tree nut (1.2 per cent)
3. Peanut and milk (tied at 0.7 per cent)
4. Fish (0.6 per cent)
5. Egg (0.5 per cent)
6. Wheat (0.4 per cent)
7. Sesame (0.2 per cent)
8. Soy (0.1 per cent)
(鈥淥ther鈥� allergies were recorded at 3.5 per cent, while 鈥淎ny鈥� allergies came in at 7.7 per cent.)
MOST PREVALENT FOOD ALLERGIES AMONG CHILDREN (UNDER 18)
1. Peanuts (2.4 per cent)
2. Tree nuts (1.6 per cent)
3. Shellfish (1.4 per cent)
4. Fish and egg (tied at 1 per cent)
5. Milk (0.7 per cent)
6. Wheat (0.3 per cent)
7. Sesame and soy (tied at 0.1 per cent)
(鈥淥ther鈥� allergies were recorded at 2.2 per cent, while 鈥淎ny鈥� allergies came in at 6.9 per cent.)
The new data will be used as a 鈥渂enchmark鈥� to guide future studies, the report鈥檚 authors say.
鈥淎lthough our research has provided a view of the food allergy landscape in Canada, it is merely a glimpse -- a snapshot in time,鈥� said research co-leader Susan Elliott, a professor at the University of Waterloo.
The next AllerGen-funded survey of Canadian households is slated for launch this month.
Elliott said, 鈥淭his next survey will help us to answer the questions: 鈥業s food allergy on the rise?鈥� and 鈥楬ow are the prevalence, perception and experience of food allergy in Canada changing over time?鈥欌��
