British mums 'overly worried about food allergies'

01 Feb 2008

Despite increasing awareness on food allergies and intolerances in children, the actual rate of hypersensitivity to certain foods is not on the rise, according to a new study.

Latest research from the University of Portsmouth has found that many mothers in the UK are too quick to assume their child has an intolerance or allergy to a specific food.

The findings revealed that the number of children found to be allergic or intolerant to a specific food has not increased since similar tests were carried out 20 years ago.

Carina Venter, a dietician and senior researcher at the university, commented: "People have become more aware of food allergies, particularly of peanut allergy.

"Mums tend to put down every rash, tummy ache, diarrhoea and crying to food allergy or intolerance. I sympathise with them – it seems reasonable to blame the food when an infant screams or turns red in the face minutes after being fed it for the first time."

Studies have shown that the most common food allergies in toddlers are to peanuts, eggs and milk.

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