Probability of Having a Food Allergy
8% (1 in 12.5)
Lifetime probability in US
Approximately 8% of children and 10% of adults in the US have a food allergy, with rates that have been increasing over recent decades.
Food allergies affect approximately 8% of children (about 5.6 million) and an estimated 10.8% of adults in the US, according to research published in JAMA and supported by CDC data. The prevalence of food allergies in children has increased by about 50% since the late 1990s, and the reasons for this rise are not fully understood.
The most common food allergens (the "Big 9" under US labeling law) are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame. Peanut allergy is the most common cause of food-induced anaphylaxis. About 40% of children with food allergies have experienced a severe reaction, and food allergy sends someone to the emergency room every 3 minutes in the US.
Management centers on strict allergen avoidance, reading food labels carefully, carrying prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens), wearing medical alert identification, and having an anaphylaxis action plan. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is now FDA-approved for peanut allergy in children, representing a significant advance. Schools are required to accommodate students with food allergies, and restaurant allergen awareness has improved significantly.
Use This in a Decision
Plug this probability into our expected value calculator to make a data-driven decision.
Start a Decision