Parents 'self-diagnosing food allergies'

24 Jun 2008

A third of parents turn to the internet for information on allergies or food intolerances their children may have, rather than visit the doctor.

These are the findings of a report by Total Greek Yoghurt, which also revealed that a third of mums and dads suspect their offspring do have a potential food allergy.

Additionally, 15% use their own experiences to diagnose their children's intolerances, the study found.

It was suggested that parents often cut out dairy produce from their offspring's diets, which could be harmful in the long-term, said the firm.

Nutritionist Fiona Hunter warned that it is "crucial" that a professional medical practitioner diagnoses a youngster's food allergies and parents should only eliminate certain things from their diet after seeking advice from a dietician.

Total Greek Yoghurt also recommended that mums and dads find out about what ingredients are in different foods, as then they can be certain which meals they can cook for their child.

The NHS Choices website advises that children may develop stomach aches for a variety of reasons, such as depression, hyperactivity or food intolerance.

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