Food Standards Agency
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Allergy myth-buster tool launched

An online tool aimed at dispelling myths about food allergy and intolerance has been launched on the NHS Choices website, with the help of the Food Standards Agency.

The tool, developed in conjunction with FSA allergy experts, looks at common misconceptions about food allergies and intolerances and sorts the facts from fiction.

It tackles topics including:

  • the differences between allergies and intolerances
  • whether you can ‘outgrow’ allergies and intolerances
  • the use of home-test kits
  • whether allergies and intolerances can be cured

Sue Hattersley, head of the FSA’s Allergy Branch said: ‘This myth-buster tool provides information in an easy-to-use format and I challenge everyone to have a go on it and see how much they really know about allergy.’

A number of surveys have found that 20%-30% of people claim to have a food allergy. However, an FSA report in 2008 estimated that only 5-8% of children and 1-2% of adults really do have a food allergy.

More on the allergy tool can be found on the NHS Choices website at the link below. Agency advice on food allergy and intolerance can also be found on NHS Choices, and more on our allergy work is on this site.

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