Black male children have the highest rates of food allergies

Children, males and blacks have the highest rates of food allergies in the United States, and the risk is 4.4 times higher among male black children than in the general population, a new study finds. Overall, 7.6 million people (2.5% of the U.S. population) are estimated to have food allergies, according to researchers who analyzed data from 8,203 people, aged 1 year to 60 and older, who were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005-06. The participants had their blood tested for antibodies to four specific foods: peanuts, milk, eggs and shrimp. Food allergy rates were highest (4.2%) among children aged 1 to 5 and lowest (1.3%) among adults older than 60. Compared to the general population, food allergies were two times more common among children aged 1 to 19, three times more common among blacks and two times more common among males. Peanut allergy was the most common food allergy, affecting 1.3% of the survey participants. Rates of peanut allergy were 1.8% in children aged 1 to 5, 2.7% in children aged 6 to 19, and 0.3% in adults.