NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) is the lead institute at the National Institute of Health (NIH) for research of food allergies. According to the institute's official website, they are committed to supporting efforts to help better understand, prevent, and manage this disorder that affects approximately 5 percent of children and 4 percent of adults in the United States.
A food allergy is an irregular response to a particular food activated by the human body's immune system. According to the lead Institute at the National Institutes of Health, the most common food allergies found in infants and children are: eggs, milk, peanuts, and tree nuts such as walnuts. Studies have shown that many infants and children suffering from food allergies are also allergic to wheat and soy. The common food allergies found in adults are: shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and fish such as salmon.
According to the company's official website, food allergies start early in life, however a significant amount of children outgrow their soy, egg and milk allergies. Food allergies can occur in the human body at any age. The best way for people to prevent experiencing a food allergy is to remove the food from their diet; once the allergy has been diagnosed. It is very important that those suffering from food allergies read the labels of the foods they plan to consume. It is also important they are cautious of menu options when dining out, because sometimes menus will place warning messages for those suffering from food allergies. The institute also states that the primary symptoms of a food allergy are: itching in the mouth or swelling, a decrease in blood pressure, hives or eczema, tightening of the throat or trouble breathing and vomiting.
According to The New York Times, Congress recently appropriated only $28 million a year for food allergy research (compared with, say, $1 billion for diabetes and $5 billion for cancer). The Food Allergy Research and Education group (FARE), the only major food-allergy organization, spent an additional $3.4 million for research last year.
People suffering with food allergies need to be very cautious about what they are consuming. If they accidently consume a food they are highly allergic to it could become a fatal mistake.
