One question that we often hear from the parents of food allergic children is: Why have food allergies become so common these days?

That’s a difficult question, though many researchers are working hard for the answer. There are a variety of scientific theories that are currently being discussed. One potential cause could be the relatively recent introduction of genetically modified foods.

Genetically modified crops (GMOs) were introduced in the U.S. in the early 1990s, and foods created from these crops hit our supermarkets shortly thereafter. These crops have modified genes that allow them to grow faster, bear more fruit or even create their own insecticide. In layman’s terms, this engineering is the process of taking genes from one strain of an animal, plant, virus or bacteria, etc. and then inserting them into another, with the goal of reproducing characteristics of the original host species in the receiving species.

One example is a specific soybean variety genetically modified to be virtually immune to the popular Roundup herbicide, a chemical which kills almost any other plant. Of course, we consumers are then eating these modified soybeans.

How good are these foods for the human immune system? No one really knows! But some preliminary research studies have linked genetically modified foods with the creation of food protein antibodies in mice.

Another theory is called the “hygiene hypothesis” – which basically says that because we keep our homes, schools, other public places, and general environment too clean, we don’t give our immune systems something “worthy” to work on. The result is that our immune systems turn on themselves, and create problems such as the peanut protein, for example.

The hypothesis gained some credibility in the late 1980s, when health researchers compared the rates of allergies and asthma throughout the newly unified Germany.
Researchers assumed that the children growing up in the communist East, a poorer, dirtier environment, would suffer from more allergy and asthma than youngsters in the West, with its cleaner and more modern environment.

Actually, the opposite was found to be true. Children in the polluted areas of East Germany had lower allergic reactions and fewer cases of asthma than children in the West.

This is in line with the hypothesis, which suggests that when the human immune system lacks practice fighting bacteria and viruses, perhaps from an overly sanitary lifestyle, the system then overreacts to harmless substances like pollen.

In addition to a less sanitary environment, East Germany families tended to be larger, and rely more on the use of daycare for young children, two more factors that could attribute to their children being exposed to more microbes and potential irritants.

And there are many other potential culprits for the increase in food allergies – such as overall genetics, eating allergic foods during pregnancy, or use of vaccines in children. But there are no clear-cut or obvious reason(s) for the increases in food allergies, and for now these are just educated guesses, and nothing more.

We hope that science and medical research can one day unlock the mystery of food allergies, and how we can potentially treat or even cure them sometime in our future. Until then, the only completely reliable defense is avoidance…so the Allergy Free Shop will be here to provide the most up to date information and the allergy free foods and products that you need to keep your loved ones safe.

Labels: allergens, allergic reaction, allergy free, anaphylaxis, big eight, food allergen, food allergy, ingredients, peanut allergy, peanut proteins, wheat allergy

The Allergy Free Shop exists to provide parents and caretakers with allergen-free foods and products for those with food allergies and sensitivities. We also strive to provide resources that help to provide guidance to those just beginning their education about specific food allergies affecting their children.

Prevalence & Prognosis

Tree Nut Allergy is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances from tree nuts, causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe physical symptoms for millions of people.

Tree nut allergies occur mainly, but not exclusively, in children. They are usually treated with an exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may be contaminated with tree nuts or nut particles and/or oils.

Common tree nuts include cashews, almonds, pecans and walnuts. It should be noted that tree nut allergy is slightly different from peanut allergy because the type(s) of nuts that cause the allergic reactions are not the same. Peanuts are actually considered legumes, whereas tree nuts are classified as dry fruits.

The symptoms of peanut allergy and nut allergy can be the same, but a person with tree nut allergies may not necessarily be allergic to peanuts, and vice versa. For a frame of reference, research by Mount Sinai School of Medicine shows there is a 30 to 60% chance a child with a peanut allergy will develop a tree nut allergy as well. As with all food allergies, it is possible to "outgrow" tree nut allergy.

Tree Nut Avoidance

Similar to other allergies, the most severe nut allergy reaction is called anaphylaxis, and is an emergency situation requiring immediate attention and treatment with epinephrine. A strict exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may contain or be contaminated with tree nut allergens is the only 100% effective treatment.

Some people also wonder if other common food products are classified as tree nuts, such as coconut, nutmeg or water chestnuts. The answer is no, although it is possible to be allergic to these food items on their own. (Coconut has even been determined to be a tree nut by the FDA for the purposes of labeling, but does not cross react with tree nuts allergies.)

Allergy Free Shop offers a wide variety of foods that are Tree Nut Free. Some of our best sellers are Orgran’s Vanilla Outback Animals and Itsy Bitsy Bears, as well as No Nuttin’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, and Vermont Nut Free’s yummy chocolate covered pretzels. Our entire line of Tree Nut Free products can be found here.

Our goal is to provide you with a wide variety of allergy-free products for you and your children, a place where you can find EVERYTHING that you need in one place. And with ongoing vigilance, and armed with an understanding of your child's or loved one's food allergy, you CAN avoid exposure and reactions to Tree Nut allergens!

Labels: allergens, allergic reaction, allergy free, anaphylaxis, big eight, food allergy, ingredients, peanut proteins, tree nuts allergy

The Allergy Free Shop exists to provide parents and caretakers with allergen-free foods and products for those with food allergies and sensitivities. We also strive to provide resources that help to provide guidance to those just beginning their education about specific food allergies affecting their children. This series focuses on the "Big Eight" - the eight most prevalent food allergies found in the U.S. Most are very common in other parts of the world as well. They are Peanut Allergy, Egg Allergy, Dairy Allergy, Tree Nut Allergy, Seafood Allergy, Shellfish Allergy, Soy Allergy and Wheat Allergy.

One of the most potentially dangerous allergies in both children and adults is peanut allergy. In very serious cases the reaction to peanut proteins in allergic individuals can progress to anaphylaxis - a severe, whole-body allergic reaction which requires immediate medical attention and response.

Those with peanut allergy are hypersensitive to the proteins found in whole peanuts, peanut particles and peanut-based oils. This causes an overreaction of the body's immune system, which in a small percentage of people may lead to severe allergic response and potentially life-threatening physical symptoms. It should be noted that peanut allergy is distinct from allergies related to tree nuts, but the majority of those allergic to peanuts are also allergic to other nuts, like walnuts, cashews or brazilnuts.

The Body's Reaction To Peanuts

After initial exposure, the body reacts to the peanut proteins by generating IgE antibodies, which then will attach to most of the mast cells with the next exposure to peanuts. The IgE signal then tells the cells to flood the body with histamines and other mediator chemicals, which causes the allergic reaction. Reactions to peanuts or peanut proteins can happen within a few minutes, or hours after exposure. Initial symptoms often include wheezing, a tingling or itchy sensation on the lips, tongue or in the throat, sneezing, feelings of light headedness and or warmth and flush skin. Vomiting, diarrhea, hives, angioedema (swelling of the lips, face, throat and skin) and asthma attacks can all occur.

Without acute medical treatment, symptoms can quickly progress to bronchospasm, or obstruction of the lower and/or upper airway, and hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure. This may lead to full anaphylactic shock, with potential heart failure and even death.

Causes And Prevalence

The exact cause of the development of peanut allergy is unknown, but similar to many other food allergies, it is believed to have a strong genetic component, and is more likely to develop in children who have 1st-degree relatives with atopic disease (other allergies). Other factors, such as race, also play a role; Native Americans in particular seem less prone to develop peanut allergy.

It is not believed that exposure to peanuts during pregnancy or during breast-feeding is a cause of peanut allergies, though some studies have found that delaying the introduction of peanut products with children can potentially increase the risks of developing a peanut allergy.*

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation estimates that peanut allergy is the most common cause of food-related death. However, deaths from peanut allergy reactions are still relatively rare; about 100 people per year die from peanut allergies. It should be noted that asthmatics that also have peanut allergy are more likely to develop life-threatening reactions.

Prevalence among children and adults is roughly the same, about 1%. But as with many other food allergies, peanut allergy seems to be on the rise in children in the United States. The number of young children affected with peanut allergy doubled between 1997 and 2002, although about 25% of children with a peanut allergy will eventually outgrow it.**

Treatment Of Peanut Allergy

There have been recent studies that have attempted to de-sensitize children to peanut allergens by exposure to minute, but escalating doses of peanut protein, and has met with some success. But it should be noted that currently there is no confirmed treatment to cure, or prevent, allergic reactions in those with the allergy that are exposed to peanuts.

An exclusion diet, with strict avoidance of peanuts and peanut protein containing products, is the only sure way to avoid allergic reactions. This can be difficult, since some products that you might not expect to contain peanut proteins - such as chocolate and other candies, ice cream, crackers, chili and spaghetti sauce - may in fact contain them. The ubiquity of peanut containing foods in our diet makes avoidance difficult. This makes accidental ingestions and reactions fairly common. For this reason, it is highly recommended that both children and adults with peanut allergy carry epinephrine injectors in case of anaphylaxis.

Allergy Free Shop offers a wide variety of foods that are Peanut Free. Some of our best sellers are Vermont Nut Free Milk Chocolate Skippers, Orgran Outback Animals, and the Enjoy Life Boom Choco Boom Rice Milk Chocolate Bar. You can view our entire stock of over 600 Peanut Free foods and beverages here.

Our goal is to provide you with a wide variety of allergy-free products for you and your children, a place where you can find EVERYTHING that you need in one place. And with ongoing vigilance, and armed with an understanding of your child's or loved one's food allergy, you CAN avoid exposure and reactions to these specific food allergens!

* Food allergy advice may be peanuts, Science News magazine, Dec 6 2008

** Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and UCL Institute of Child Health, Peanut Allergy - Family Factsheet

Labels: allergens, allergic reaction, allergy free, anaphyaxis, anaphylactic, angioedema, food allergy, ingredients, peanut allergy, peanut proteins