HHS HealthBeat (October 27, 2008)

Risks on the menu for 3 million kids

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

About 3 million American children and teens have food allergies. That number is in the first report on food allergies by the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study says reported food allergies have risen about 18 percent from 1997 to 2007.

The report covers every age group from 18 years on down. Health statistician Amy Branum says younger children tend to be more affected by food allergy. But she says most people who are diagnosed young outgrow food allergies.

What types of foods most affect young people with food allergies?

``There’s about eight types of food that make up about 90 percent of all the allergies, and these include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.’’ (11 seconds)

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: October, 27 2008