As the 11th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week draws to a close, it’s a good time to take a look at some interesting facts regarding food allergies.  For the last several years, food allergies have become a growing public health concern across the country, especially since children are some of the most hard-hit victims.

Here are some recent numbers according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN):

• More than 12 million Americans have food allergies which translates to 1 out of every 25 people in the country.
• In children under 3, there is a higher percentage of food allergies-1 out of every 17 young children.
• Total, approximately 3 million U.S. children have food allergies.
• 8 foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions in the nation: [1] milk [2] eggs [3] peanuts [4] tree nuts like almonds and cashews [5] wheat [6] soy [7] fish and [8] shellfish.

Since there is no cure for food allergies and even the smallest amount of a food allergen can cause a reaction in someone, parents need to take note of what their kids are eating and if their kids experience unusual reactions. Visit the FAAN website for even more information regarding food allergies and 5 steps forward the country is taking to combat this growing problem.