Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly categorizes an ingested article of food as a threat and launches an immune defense against it. While many food allergies cause only mild symptoms, severe food allergies can result in fatal anaphylactic reactions. Recognized by clinicians since antiquity, rates of food allergy have been increasing in the past decades, and scientists have struggled to explain why. Food allergies are also controversial, with much conflicting opinion about what constitutes a food allergy, how people should be protected from accidental exposures, and what has caused increased rates. Adding to the lack of consensus is a lack of research about the incidence, prevalence, and epidemiology of food allergies. Despite this, patient groups have been remarkably successful in raising awareness ...