food allergy

Every Bite Counts: The Hidden Struggles of Food Allergies

For someone living with food allergies, reactions to an allergen trigger can range from mild to fatal. In addition to the medical side of living with food allergies, there are also significant financial, psychological and social impacts as well.

Financial

The economic burden of food allergies is intense. The care for a person with a food allergy can cost over $4,000 per year. There are direct medical expenses like doctor visits, emergency room visits, and medications. A person with a food allergy may require frequent visits to specialists which can cost hundreds of dollars per visit. Avoiding food allergens can significantly increase a household food budget through the added costs of specialized foods or special food preparation time and effort. One example is those living with Celiac disease (who must eat a strict gluten-free diet)… gluten-free products are 183% more expensive than their gluten-containing counterparts. Consider that a loaf of gluten-free bread can cost $7 and that loaf is about half the size of a regular loaf of bread. Food allergies may also have indirect costs such as missed work or job loss for taking necessary time off for illness or care.

Photo of child sitting alone at school lunch table.

Mental Health

Living with a food allergy affects your psychological well-being, increasing anxiety, isolation and fear of reaction. Parents and caregivers of those with food allergies can experience increased stress and worry, and develop a sense of hyper-vigilance from constantly having to protect their child from an allergic reaction. To get a sense of this hypervigilance, I reached out to fellow Family and Consumer Sciences OSU Extension Educator, Ken Stewart, who lives with food allergies: “I am constantly checking labels. It’s better now than it used to be because most major allergens are listed on ingredients separately. I see recipes, check the ingredients, and often just don’t continue because I don’t feel like trying to figure out substitutions. There is often peril at potluck dinners. One minute you are eating a sub for lunch and an hour later you’re in the Emergency Room.”

Social

Living with a food allergy affects your social life. Consider classroom parties, birthday parties and other social events where food is often the center of focus. Ken Stewart adds, “I used to avoid other kids’ birthday parties, so I didn’t have to explain why I didn’t want any birthday cake.” Many times, social gatherings happen at restaurants. “Eating out is stressful, especially at a new restaurant,” states Stewart. Those living with food allergies must plan ahead to be sure there will be food safe for them to eat, or plan to bring their own. This is particularly isolating for children, who may feel left out of celebrations as well as normal activities.

For those living with food allergies, every bite counts.

For more information, check out the Food Allergy Research and Education website.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Sofia Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, carter.@osu.edu

Contributor: Ken Stewart, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County, stewart.1982@osu.edu

Understanding Food Allergies

Food allergies are an increasing public health concern that affect six percent of adults and about eight percent of children in the United States. Food allergy is a serious and potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to consuming certain foods and affects 33 million Americans. One in every 13 children has a food allergy—that equates to about two in every classroom in America. Food allergies are serious: every 10 seconds, a food allergy reaction sends a patient to the emergency room.

What Causes a Food Allergy?

The body’s immune system is responsible for identifying and destroying germs that cause illness. A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakes a harmless food protein for a bacteria or virus. When a person with a food allergy eats, touches, or inhales a certain protein in food, the immune system produces an antibody to attack it. The next time the person eats, touches, or inhales that same allergen, it binds to the antibodies, causing cells to release chemicals that trigger symptoms. The onset of reaction to a food allergen can range from minutes to hours, and symptoms can vary from mild to life-threatening.

The nine most common food allergens are milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame. The United States Department of AgricultureUSDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have laws which require all the ingredients in a food product to be listed on the food label. People can be allergic to foods other than the nine most common. Unfortunately, these allergens can hide in unexpected places, and may not be listed on food labels.

hands holding a jar

Food Allergies Are Serious

Food allergy may occur in response to any food, and some people are allergic to more than one food. Food allergies may start in childhood or as an adult. You can develop a food allergy at any age, even to a food that you’ve safely eaten before.  Although there is no ‘cure,’ children may outgrow a food allergy over time.

Food allergies should always be taken seriously, as they are potentially life-threatening. Food allergies differ from food intolerances, and symptoms may overlap with those of other medical conditions. It is very important to have a food allergy confirmed by an evaluation with an allergy specialist.

Support for those with Food Allergies

Although it can be a challenge to live with a food allergy, it’s helpful to understand the allergy and how to avoid it. Thankfully there are entire organizations dedicated to providing support and resources for those living with food allergies. For more information, check out the Food Allergy Research and Education website.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Ken Stewart, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County, stewart.1982@osu.edu

Sources:

Food Allergy and Research and Education https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/what-food-allergy

Food Safety and  Inspection Service https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-allergies-big-9#:~:text=What%20Is%20a%20Food%20Allergy,are%20caused%20by%20certain%20proteins

National Institutes of Health https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/food-allergy-causes-prevention