We know that too much of the wrong kind of food can be bad for our health, but for some people having a food allergy, eating certain things can actually be harmful. Now it is seemingly affecting more and more of us.
An allergy is caused by the immune system fighting substances in the environment, known as allergens, that it should see as harmless. It means people have to spend their lives following strict dietary restrictions and worrying about the ingredients of everything they consume. We often hear about people having allergies to dairy products and to peanuts. Last year a teenager died after suffering a fatal allergic reaction from eating a baguette containing sesame seeds.
Research has found that this problem is particularly affecting children. Dr Alexandra Santos from King's College London says food allergy now affects about 7 percent of children in the UK, and 9 percent of those in Australia.
Dr Santos says, the increase in allergies is not simply the effect of society becoming more aware of them and better at diagnosing them. She adds that possible factors are pollution, dietary changes and less exposure to bacteria, which change how our immune systems respond.
A. So what might be the cause?
B. It seems to be more environmental.
C. Similarly, food allergic reaction is deadly.
D. This led to a call for better food-labeling laws.
E. Besides, more adults are suffering from food allergies.
F. However, food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions.
G. More and more of them are having allergic reactions to certain foodstuffs.
