Annual Probability of Food Allergy ER Visit

Food allergies send approximately 200,000 Americans to the emergency room each year, with about 30,000 of these visits involving anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction). Food allergy prevalence has been increasing, now affecting about 10% of adults and 8% of children in the US (about 32 million people total).

The most common food allergens (the "Big Nine") are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame (added in 2023). Among children, milk, eggs, and peanuts are the most common allergies, while among adults, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts predominate. About 40% of food-allergic children have experienced a severe reaction.

Fatal food allergy reactions are rare, with approximately 100-200 deaths per year in the US, but they can occur rapidly (within minutes of exposure). Most fatal reactions involve peanuts or tree nuts and occur outside the home (restaurants, schools, social gatherings). Epinephrine auto-injectors are the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, and all food-allergic individuals should carry two. The FASTER Act of 2021 added sesame as the ninth major allergen requiring labeling on packaged foods.