Allergies Become Epidemic<br>Food allergy sufferers double in the last 10 years

ZURICH -- Today the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) launched its Food Allergy Campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of the sharp increase of anaphylaxis in children, an allergic reaction that is severe and potentially life-threatening. It aims at educating the public to recognise the symptoms and its triggers, and to teach methods of how to react in case of emergency, e.g. by using an adrenaline pen.

"The first element of this campaign is the launch of the International Minimum
Standards for the Allergic Child at School document that establishes minimum requirements for the safety of allergic children at school. A third of all life-threatening allergic reactions occur at school where children are exposed to an environment of new foods and are at risk of coming into contact with trigger foods. We plan to have the standards established and the patient version of the International Minimum Standards for the Allergic Child at School document ready for publication in the next few months," announced Prof Cezmi Akdis, EAACI president.

More than 17 million people in Europe suffer from food allergies, with 3.5 million
younger than 25 years. The sharpest increase is seen in children and young people,
especially in the number of life-threatening allergic reactions in children. The number of
hospital admissions for severe allergic reactions in children increased 7-fold in the last
10 years.

In continental Europe the most common food allergy in children is to egg, cow's milk
and tree-nuts, while in adulthood it is to fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables. In the UK,
walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts pose the biggest threat and cause 50% of all
life-threatening allergic reactions.

Allergy to shellfish and cod prevails in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Across
Europe, food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis in children aged 0-14.

Food allergies vs. food intolerances

The campaign also aims to teach the differences between food intolerances and food
allergies. Food intolerances do not directly involve the immune system. Therefore, it
cannot be measured by allergy tests. Lactose intolerance is a non-allergic
hypersensitivity and reactions to food additives are mostly non-allergic. In general, the
symptoms of non-allergic hypersensitivity are milder and therefore are rarely
life-threatening reactions.

The aim is to improve food labelling and broaden access to anaphylaxis treatment.

The EAACI Food Allergy Campaign is also going to engage with EU authorities to improve food labelling and to facilitate access to anaphylaxis emergency treatment.

Some foods have the label "May contain peanuts" or "May contain milk". This label is
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