Food allergies on the rise?

1080 Food is an integral part of life; however, for some, it can also be deadly. Sufferers of food allergies must avoid, for example, certain cereals, nuts or fish at all costs, and scrutinize the list of ingredients of every food item to make sure that it is safe. The consequences of accidentally eating just a tiny morsel of the wrong food can be serious: breathing difficulties, swelling of the lips and throat, abdominal cramps and vomiting, and possibly death. Although food allergies are believed to be on the rise, a paucity of data on their prevalence—and just how quickly it is increasing—makes it difficult for governments and health services to react. Assessing the incidence of food allergies is easier said than done. Societal and scientific definitions differ, and diagnosis can be problematic. Without firm figures on the number of people affected, it is difficult to track the changes in prevalence over time, and to trace the underlying causes of food allergy. More importantly, governments can be slow to implement policy changes—such as guidelines on food labelling—when the extent of the problem is not clear.