Food Allergy

Food allergies have become more common in our community, with up to one in ten young children now affected. Reactions can range from mild hives to life threatening anaphylaxis and breathing difficulties. The most common food allergies are to egg, peanut, tree nuts, cow’s milk, fish, shellfish, sesame, wheat and soy.

What causes food allergies?

Allergies are the result of incorrect decisions by the immune system. In infancy, immature immune systems must quickly learn what is safe and what is not, and sometimes they get it wrong.

Many changes in our modern diet, lifestyle and environment are likely contributing to the current allergy epidemic.

What are the most common food allergies?

While any food can trigger an allergic reaction, more than 90 per cent of childhood food allergies in Australia are caused by common foods like eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish. Allergies to egg, milk, sesame, soy, and wheat are often temporary, with many children outgrowing them. However, allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are usually lifelong.

Our research impact:

Two studies led by researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia, which explored the timing of egg introduction in infants' diets, have contributed to national and international guidelines on infant feeding and allergy prevention.

Our team is also conducting the Nuts for Babies Study, investigating whether a mother’s nut intake during breastfeeding affects her baby’s risk of developing food allergies. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.thekids.org.au/nuts-for-babies

Preventing food allergy

For up-to-date information on allergies and how to reduce the risk of food allergy visit:

*If you have concerns that your child has a food allergy, please seek medical advice.

More information

Food Allergy teams

ORIGINS

ORIGINS is Australia's largest longitudinal cohort study of its kind. Following 10,000 WA children from their time in the womb into early childhood, ORIGINS researchers are working to better understand when and why non-communicable diseases develop, and provide solutions for early intervention to ensure every child and family flourishes throughout their lifetime.

ORIGINS

Nutrition in Early Life

The vision of the Nutrition in Early Life team is to work together with the community to produce quality research, for improving our knowledge of how a mother’s diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding can improve both her and her child’s health.

Nutrition in Early Life

OPTIMUM study

The OPTIMUM Study is looking to determine whether one dose of 'whole cell' pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine given at two months of age instead of the current 'acellular' pertussis vaccine can help protect young children against allergic outcomes.

Topic overview Food Allergy

Food allergy