Waning Peanut Allergy Incidents

Filed in archive Allergy: Research and Development , Food Allergies , Living with Allergies on June 25, 2006

Seems like Canada is making headway in spreading awareness about peanut allergies. According to a new study conducted by researchers from the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, incidents of accidental consumption of peanuts among allergic children are declining.

Of the 252 children studied, 29 said they had accidentally consumed peanuts a total of 35 times over 244 patient years. That translates to a little more than a 14 percent incidence rate per year -- a big drop from the 50 percent incidence rate published in the same journal in 1989, and a 55 percent rate found in a British study published in 2005.

Two main factors that have contributed to this drop are Canada's strict food labelling regulations and the fact that most schools are peanut-free.
I just wish we can hear the same news about peanut allergy incidents in other parts of the world, too. And it's achievable, you know. See the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network for ideas on how you can help!