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 </=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 correlated with angioedema, asthma, rhinitis, and fruit allergy (P <.01). 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 of 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.