Food allergies affect approximately 8 per cent of children in the US and around 10 per cent of adults, but their impact is not evenly distributed across the population. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI) has issued a position statement recommending key steps to address food allergy disparities, emphasising the need for inclusive research and equitable healthcare access.
Significant gaps and unmet needs exist regarding food allergy disparities, with evidence showing that food allergy outcomes are worse for low-income families. While these families face difficulties accessing allergen-free foods, they are more likely to access emergency treatment for food allergies where they often face higher emergency care costs.
Specific factors that contribute to racial or ethnic disparities in food allergies remain unclear, and more research is needed to understand the relationship between food allergy prevalence and various influences in minority populations. Experts believe a combination of factors including delayed introduction of allergenic foods, along with inequities in diagnosis and treatment are disproportionately adversely impacting people of colour with food allergies. This may be driving up occurrence rates of food allergies within marginalised groups.
Some strategies to help address these disparities include:
- Raising awareness among clinicians and communities about food allergies and their impact
- Increasing diversity in clinical trials on food allergy treatments to ensure findings hold relevance to all sectors of the population
- Enrolling more students of colour in allergy and immunology medical specialties.
School policies to improve food allergy awareness, management and emergency preparedness, as well as culturally appropriate community engagement via workshops and forums are further strategies that could help reduce food allergy disparities.
References:
- Addressing health disparities in food allergy: A Position Statement of the AAAAI Prior Authorization Task Force. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.10.008
- Food Allergies: Why They Differ Among Racial and Ethnic Groups.
