Self-reported anaphylaxis to packaged foods in Australia

Food allergy and rates of food-related anaphylaxis are increasing, with implications for food allergic consumers and the food manufacturing industry.1,2 There is considerable anxiety in food allergic communities regarding the severe risk of allergic reactions to unlisted allergens in packaged foods. Responses were assessed for inclusion where 1 or more of the following symptoms were reported: difficult/noisy breathing, swelling of tongue, swelling/tightness in throat, difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice, chest tightness and shortness of breath, wheeze or persistent cough, persistent dizziness and/or collapse, pale and floppy as part of a generalized allergic reaction (in young children only).3 Gastrointestinal symptoms without any cardiovascular or respiratory symptoms listed above were not considered eligible. A weakness of this study is reliance on self-reported reactions, and doctor confirmation of anaphylaxis would have strengthened the study. [...]we studied a highly selected group of consumers, and it is possible that these results do not reflect the experiences of the general food allergic community.