
Peanut and other tree nut allergies generally produce the most severe reactions. Approximately 0.6% of Americans have peanut/tree nut allergies, out of a total of 1.6% with food allergies of some kind. Unlike some other allergies, which seem to be outgrown by children, the reaction to these nuts does not fade with age and can increase in severity with each exposure. In fact, the number of people who have food allergies seems to be increasing, according to Dr. Hugh A. Sampson of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in the Journal of Pediatrics, though he notes that the reason for the rise has not yet been determined. It is thought that the increase may be due to an increase in the number of trace exposures to allergens, a concern that has contributed to the FDA's push for new labeling laws.








