In certain countries, peanut is definitely more frequently the food allergen in that population. In other countries like Italy or like Norway, their allergies are to hazelnut or walnut. And then in other countries, their major allergen is milk, for example, in China or in Japan. Do we know what proportion of people suffer from allergies like this and perhaps it changes country to country?
Food allergies appear to be increasing globally, but as scientific understanding improves, some experts believe we may one day be able to eliminate them altogether. Ian Sample speaks to Dr Kari Nadeau, an allergy specialist at Harvard School of Public Health and author of the book The End of Food Allergy, to discuss why food allergies are on the rise and what we can do to prevent – and possibly even cure – them. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod