Food Sensitivity Varies by Country

LONDONRates of food sensitivity vary from country to country, according to a new study from Imperial College London published in the journal Allergy.

Researchers studied more than 4,500 adults from 13 countries checking the subjects blood for antibodies against variety of foods. Team found the United States, Germany, Italy and Norway had the highest prevalence of food sensitivitywith about 22 percent of people from each country showing antibodies against some type of food. The lowest rates were seen in Iceland (11 percent), Spain (11 percent), France and the United Kingdom (each approximately 14 percent).

The researchers found that different nations tended to have exactly same specific foods that lead to reactions such as hazelnuts (7 percent), peaches (5 percent), shrimp (5 percent), wheat (5 percent) and apples (5 percent.) Cow's milk, fish, and eggs that generally are thought to be foods items most like to trigger allergic reactions turned out to be least common causes of sensitivity.