Mary Allen

Role of food labels in accidental exposures in food-allergic individuals in Canada

BACKGROUND Little is known about the impact of food labeling on the allergic consumer. OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of food-allergic individuals attributing an accidental exposure to inappropriate labeling, failure to read a food label, or ignoring a precautionary statement and to identify factors associated with accidental exposures. METHODS Food-allergic individuals or their caregivers were recruited from a Canadian registry of individuals with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy and from allergy awareness organizations. Participants completed questionnaires regarding accidental exposures due to specific food labeling issues. The association between accidental exposures and characteristics of food-allergic individuals or their caregivers was estimated using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS Of 1,862 potential participants, 1,454 (78.1%) responded. Of the 47.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 45.1%-50.5%) of respondents who experienced an accidental exposure, 47.0% (95% CI, 43.1%-50.9%) attributed the event to inappropriate labeling, 28.6% (95% CI, 25.1%-32.2%) to failure to read a food label, and 8.3% (95% CI, 6.3%-10.7%) to ignoring a precautionary statement. Food-allergic individuals who were allergic to peanut, tree nut, fish, or shellfish were less likely to experience an accidental exposure due to the allergen not being identified in plain language. CONCLUSIONS A considerable proportion of accidental exposures are attributed to inappropriate labeling, failure to read labels, and ignoring precautionary statements. Clear and consistent labeling of food allergens combined with increased consumer education is necessary to improve consumer confidence and compliance and to reduce accidental exposures.

Inadvertent exposures in children with peanut allergy

To cite this article: Nguyen‐Luu NU, Ben‐Shoshan M, Alizadehfar R, Joseph L, Harada L, Allen M, St‐Pierre Y, Clarke A. Inadvertent exposures in children with peanut allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: Doi: 10.1111/j.1399‐3038.2011.01235.x

Establishing the diagnosis of peanut allergy in children never exposed to peanut or with an uncertain history: a cross-Canada study

Ben‐Shoshan M, Kagan R, Primeau M‐N, Alizadehfar R, Turnbull E, Harada L, Dufresne C, Allen M, Joseph L, St. Pierre Y, Clarke A. Establishing the diagnosis of peanut allergy in children never exposed to peanut or with an uncertain history: a cross‐Canada study.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 920–926.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Peanut avoidance and peanut allergy diagnosis in siblings of peanut allergic children

Studies suggest that siblings of children with peanut allergy (PNA) have a higher prevalence of PNA than the general population.

Peanut allergy may be overdiagnosed in younger siblings of those with confirmed peanut allergy

Background Siblings of children with peanut allergy (PNA) are reported to have a higher prevalence of PNA than the general population. This prevalence may have both genetic and environmental influences, but may also reflect incorrect PNA diagnoses with less rigorous usage of confirmatory tests in siblings. The Peanut Allergy Registry (PAR), a Canadian database of individuals with PNA, was used to assess whether siblings born after the diagnosis of PNA in the index case (i.e., child with PNA) were more likely to have never been exposed to peanut (PN) and to be diagnosed without an appropriate clinical history or testing.

Canadians' perception of food allergy risk

Methods Households (n = 3,666) were selected at random, as part of a national food allergy prevalence survey, and data were collected via telephone. In addition to determining household allergy status, respondents were asked about environmental health risks, including those associated with food allergy/anaphylaxis. Multivariate logistic regressions, weighted to the age-sex structure of the Canadian population, were used to determine the characteristics of respondents who ranked the risks of food allergy and anaphylaxis as ‘High’ or ‘Moderate’.

Treatment of allergic reactions to peanut in recent versus initial reaction

Background Although studies suggest underuse of epinephrine in food related allergic reactions, it is not clear whether treatment may differ over time in those who have already had an allergic reaction. We sought to characterize treatment of the most recent allergic reaction to peanut versus the initial allergic reaction. Materials and methods Individuals with an allergist-confirmed peanut allergy were recruited from the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Canadian food allergy advocacy organizations. Data were collected on initial allergic reactions to peanut and most recent reaction to peanut during the year prior to study entry.