Facts:

• Approximately 11 million Americans suffer from food allergy, with 6.5 million allergic to seafood and 3 million allergic to peanut and tree nuts. Millions more are affected by allergy to insect sting, latex, exercise, medication, and idiopathic reactions (no cause identified). All of these individuals are at risk for anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
   

• Eight foods account for 90% of all reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.
   

• Food allergy reactions result in over 30,000 emergency room admissions each year.
   

• It is estimated that between 150 and 200 people die annually from anaphylaxis to food. Many of these are young children and young adults.
   

• Approximately 2 million school-aged children have food allergy.
   

• One in every 20 children under the age of 3 has food allergies.
   

• Teens and young adults with food allergy and asthma appear to be at increased risk for severe or fatal allergic reactions.
   

• The majority of patients don’t have written plans from their doctor for preventing and treating reactions.
   

• Trace amounts of the food allergen can cause a reaction. Patients should be on guard for hidden ingredients (such as milk or peanuts) in unsuspected places such as candy, baked goods, trail mixes, sauces, desserts, and gravy.
   

• There is no cure for food allergy. Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to prevent a reaction.
   

• Most individuals who have had a reaction ate a food they thought was safe.
   

• Studies have shown that early administration of epinephrine (adrenaline), available by prescription as EpiPen® or TwinJect®, is key to a patient’s survival of anaphylactic shock.

These statistics involve estimates for the U.S. only.

Source:  The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, 11781 Lee Jackson Hwy., Suite 160, Fairfax, VA 22033-3309