Food allergies affect people of color more than Caucasians

June 15, 2023 – People of color have more food allergies than white people, and low-income people are also more affected by food allergies, a new study has found.

Overall, food allergies affect 11% of adults and 8% of children, according to the study published in Open JAMA Network.

Non-Hispanic whites of all ages had the lowest rate of food allergies at 9.5%, compared to Asian people, 10.5%; Hispanic, 10.6%; and non-Hispanic blacks, 10.6%.

The cause is probably not genetic, said Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, MD, of RUSH Medical College in Chicago, on CNN.

“Most of this is probably due to environmental and social economy factors that impact the environments in which people are born and live as adults,” said Mahdavinia, who did not participate. in the study.

“Exposure to certain microbes in the environment can affect the gut microbiome, the collection of bacteria that live in a person’s gastrointestinal tract, and which could leave a person susceptible to developing food allergies,” said Mahdavinia.

Food allergies can also be caused by pollution. “Research shows that people of color tend to live in more polluted neighborhoods, regardless of income,” CNN reported.

Food allergies were lowest in households earning more than $150,000, at 8.3%, according to the study.

People with food allergies could face an economic burden from allergies, poor health and an increased risk of conditions such as eczema and asthma, the study authors wrote.

Researchers surveyed nearly 52,000 households between October 9, 2015 and September 18, 2016.