ABSTRACT
The food allergy perception/reality disparity is not a peculiarly American phenomenon. When a random sample of 1483 Dutch adults was polled, 12.4% claimed to have food allergy. A food allergy questionnaire was sent to 15,000 British households, half chosen from the electoral registers, half from the Wycombe Health Authority. Quota samples are used to poll a survey population that is representative, with respect to certain defined characteristics, of the population at large. The orthodox diagnosis approach to food reactions begins with a complete history. Suspected food allergy can be further explored with diet diaries, elimination diets, or even elemental diets. The present orthodox approach recommends a challenge test to skin test positive foods and no challenge test to skin test negative foods. Swelling and respiratory problems were statistically reported more often in the probable food allergic group, whereas the pseudo food allergic group had statistically more vague nonspecific complaints.
