Prevalence of IgE-Mediated Food Allergies in Children and Adults: Results from the Multinational ASSESS FA Study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of food allergy (FA) is increasing worldwide and becoming more widely recognized as a public health concern. Estimates of FA prevalence have relied on heterogeneous methodologies across studies making it difficult to compare patients’ groups or to generalize findings. Objective: This study aims to report the prevalence of FA in the general population across multiple countries using a standardized methodology. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, international, population-based study including children, adolescents, and adults from 9 countries (the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and China). Participants completed an online questionnaire developed to recognize FA based on different levels of evidence. The prevalence of FA was estimated based on data indicative of symptom-convincing FA to at least 1 allergen. Results: A total of 46,711 children and 44,219 adults participated in the study. The prevalence of symptom-convincing FA in children was the highest in Canada and the lowest in Germany (7.5% vs 2.4%, respectively). Among adults, the highest prevalence was 6.6% in Italy, and the lowest was 2.1% in Japan. In both age groups, the majority had FA to only 1 allergen. Peanut, milk and/or dairy products, and tree nut were the most identified allergens in children, whereas peanut, shrimp, and shellfish were the most common among adults. Conclusions: This study is one of the few that have comprehensively assessed FA globally, offering consistent evidence that FA is prevalent internationally and across age groups, making itself a public health burden that affects a wide spectrum of demographics.