Public Education Vital in Raising Awareness of Food Allergies
As a supporter of Food Allergy Awareness Week 2012, the AMA is urging enhanced public education programs to raise community awareness of potential food allergies and help people identify food products that may pose a risk to their health and the health of others.
Food Allergy Awareness Week, an initiative of Anaphylaxis Australia, promotes and develops the awareness of food allergy among Australians through education, research and ongoing support.
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that there are 170 foods that are known to trigger an allergic reaction.
“Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, wheat and soy are the most common, causing 90 per cent of all reactions,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Many of these foods can be present in unlikely food sources, and this is an important reason for more comprehensive public education about these possibilities.
“The AMA will back public education programs to build community awareness of food allergies and to help the many thousands of Australian families dealing with the effects of food allergies every day.”
Dr Hambleton noted that the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) had this week stated that food labelling is important when it comes to consumers making healthy choices, a position shared with the AMA.
Background:
- According to Anaphylaxis Australia, two per cent of Australians, including one in 10 children, have a food allergy.
- Symptoms of food allergy can include hives, swelling of the lips, face, eyes and tongue, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, vomiting or a sudden drop in blood pressure. These symptoms should not be left untreated and can be fatal.
- Doctors are best placed to diagnose food allergies and can be an important source of support and advice for those people who live with food allergies.