As stated by FoodAllergy.org “There are currently more than 170 foods that cause allergies, and 220 million people globally experience food related allergies.
To this day, food allergies are becoming more common in not just adults, but in children as well. 6.2% of adults and 5.8% of children in the U.S. have a food allergy. Allergies have increased in children by 50% from 2007, and are increasing by 1% per decade.
With allergies becoming more prevalent in society today, peanut and dairy are the top two allergies affecting people worldwide. Allergies have no cure and can cause life-threatening symptoms. As stated by the Food and Drug Administration, “the majority of allergies just cause skin and digestive discomfort. However, some can cause a deadly reaction called anaphylaxis.”
Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that causes the immune system to release chemicals, causing the body to go into shock, which could potentially cause permanent damage to the body, or death.
Sophomore Colin Trochowski is allergic to peanuts, and it is rather severe.
“Having a peanut allergy is quite devastating for me because I have to be very cautious with what I eat, and especially when I go to parties or cookouts, I can’t eat anything unless I bring my food,” Trochowski said
Allergies can be tiresome and unexciting. Most humans who suffer from allergies find it harder to eat things they like, but some feel it encourages them to eat healthier. Senior Michael Elsass has anaphylactic food allergies to dairy, eggs, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, and kiwi. He thinks his allergies have helped shape him to eat healthier.
“I would say that food allergies have made me healthier because they help me avoid lots and lots of fatty junk foods and candy,” Elsass said.
Some individuals must always carry an EpiPen to avoid the risk of having an allergic reaction to something to which they may be exposed. An EpiPen works fast, releasing epinephrine into the bloodstream, which helps guide breathing back to normal and opens up the airways to the lungs.
Sophomore Zeb Sucaldito has a peanut allergy and thinks that EpiPens can be irritating because they constantly occupy space.
“The worst part about having an allergy is that I always have to carry an EpiPen around everywhere I go, which can sometimes take up space,” Sucaldito said.
Facing an allergy can make it difficult to find food that is suitable for their allergy requirements. Many brands may create safe food, but the factory it is processed in may contain peanuts or the food they are allergic to. For example, M&M’s factory processes peanuts, which puts a risk on all the food you eat from there.
“Something hard about having an allergy is that many foods do not have peanuts but are processed in a facility that handles peanuts, which makes it so I can’t eat that food,” Trochowski said.
Mayo Clinic explains that, “facing an allergic reaction can range from minor irritation to a life-threatening emergency.” Michael Elsass feels that his allergic reactions are dreadful and cause the procedure of recovery to be delayed.
“If I eat something that I’m allergic to, it is an excruciating process and takes a long time to recover from it,” Elsass said.