Population study of food allergy in France

Background: Food allergy (FA) is an important health problem for which epidemiologic studies are needed. Objective: We performed an epidemiologic survey in France to determine the prevalence, clinical pictures, allergens, and risk factors of FA. Methods: This study was conducted on 33,110 persons who answered a questionnaire addressed to a representative sample of the French population on a scale of 1:1000 (44,000 subjects aged less than or equal to 60 years). One thousand one hundred twenty-nine persons with FA selected during phase 1 received a second questionnaire. Results: The reported prevalence of FA is 3.52 % : 3.24 % evolutionary FA; 0.12 % asymptomatic cases thanks to eviction diets; and 0.17 % cured FA. The subjects were characterized by overrepresentation of city dwellers (80 % vs 76 %), women (63 % vs 50 %), and health care personnel (11 % vs 4 %). Fifty-seven percent (vs 17 %) presented with atopic diseases (P < .01). FA was often persistent, lasting more than 7 years in 91 % of the adults. The most frequent allergens were 14 % Rosaceae, 9 % vegetables, 8 % milk, 8 % crustaceans, 5 % fruit cross-reacting with latex, 4 % egg, 3 % tree nuts, and 1 % peanut. Sensitization to pollen was significantly correlate with angioedema, asthma, rhinitis, and fruit allergy (P <. 1). FA was 4 times more frequent in patients with latex allergy. The main manifestations of FA were atopic dermatitis for subjects under 6 years of age, asthma for subjects between 4 and 6 years of age, and anaphylactic shock in adults over 30 years of age (P < .007). Shocks were correlated with alcohol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intake (P < .01 and P < .04, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence or FA is estimated at 3.24 % (range, 3.04 % to 3.44 %) in France. This study emphasizes the increasing risk of FA in well-developed countries and draws attention to certain FA risk factors, such as the intake of drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, <beta>-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) or alcohol, intolerance of latex gloves, and socioprofessional status.