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English Cymraeg
Food Sensitive Study: Wave Two Survey

Annex of Tables

Annexes A, B and C to show the number of adults, parents of children and children aged 8 to 17 years with food hypersensitivities.

Last updated: 12 September 2023
Last updated: 12 September 2023

Annex A: Adults with food hypersensitivities

For the following tables, percentages may add up to more than 100, due to rounding. Additionally, ‘*’ indicates below ‘0.5%’.

Table 4: Ethnicity by food hypersensitivity

Ethnicity All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
White British/Irish 984 (93) 281 (88) 311 (94) 216 (99) 120 (92)
Mixed/multiple ethnicity 20 (2) 9 (3) 5 (2) - 4 (3)
Asian (Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani) background 30 (3) 19 (6) 7 (2) - 1 (1)
Black British/African/Carribean 18 (2) 6 (2) 6 (2) - 4 (3)
Arab 2 (*) 2 (1) - - -
Other ethnic group 5 (*) 2 (1) 1 (*) 1 (*) 1 (1)
Total (N) 1059 319 330 217 130

Table 5: Region by food hypersensitivity

Region All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Scotland 85 (8) 28 (8) 26 (8) 17 (8) 7 (5)
Northern Ireland 14 (1) 4 (1) 5 (2) 1 (*) 2 (2)
Wales 57 (5) 18 (6) 20 (6) 12 (6) 4 (3)
North East of England 42 (4) 12 (4) 13 (4) 8 (4) 4 (3)
North West of England 91 (9) 24 (7) 22 (7) 27 (12) 12 (9)
Yorkshire and the Humber 76 (7) 24 (7) 24 (7) 10 (5) 12 (9)
East of England 115 (11) 28 (9) 46 (14) 27 (12) 11 (8)
East Midlands 73 (7) 23 (7) 28 (8) 27 (12) 11 (8)
West Midlands 103 (10) 28 (9) 33 (10) 24 (11) 13 (10)
London 106 (10) 50 (16) 21 (6) 13 (6) 13 (10)
South West of England 101 (9) 24 (7) 36 (11) 21 (10) 13 (10)
South East of England 202 (19) 60 (19) 56 (17) 44 (20) 31 (24)
Total (N) 1065 323 330 217 131

Table 6: Employment status by food hypersensitivity

Employment All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Full time 347 (33) 118 (38) 104 (32) 60 (28) 44 (34)
Part time 192 (18) 61 (19) 63 (20) 35 (16) 22 (17)
Unemployed 36 (3) 15 (5) 16 (5) 3 (1) 1 (1)
Not working 153 (15) 45 (14) 54 (17) 17 (8) 22 (17)
Not working (retired) 267 (26) 55 (18) 78 (24) 91 (42) 33 (25)
Student 28 (3) 14 (4) 3 (1) 3 (1) 5 (4)
Other 23 (2) 6 (2) 4 (1) 7 (3) 3 (2)
Total (N) 1046 314 322 216 130

Table 7: All foods reacted to (no limit on number of foods reported) by hypersensitivity

Food All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Celery 71 (2) 36 (2) 15 (2) 3 (1) 13 (2)
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye barley or oats) 481 (14) 55 (4) 110 (12) 212 (66) 82 (15)
Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, scampi or lobsters) 137 (4) 59 (4) 38 (4) 6 (2) 26 (5)
Eggs 153 (4) 53 (4) 50 (5) 4 (1) 27 (5)
Fish 100 (3) 43 (3) 21 (2) 3 (1) 27 (5)
Lupin 37 (1) 18 (1) 6 (1) - 10 (2)
Milk 297 (8)  68 (5) 119 (13) 21 (7) 59 (11)
Molluscs (such as mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams or oysters) 107 (3) 47 (3) 28 (3) 4 (1) 21 (4)
Mustard 58 (2) 17 (1) 19 (2) 4 (1) 10 (2)
Peanuts 167 (5) 101 (7) 27 (3) 3 (1) 24 (4)
Tree nuts: Almonds 134 (4) 87 (6) 24 (3) 1 (*) 15 (3)
Tree nuts: Hazelnuts 136 (4) 91 (6) 23 (3) 3 (1) 17 (3)
Tree nuts: Brazil nuts 121 (3) 79 (5) 24 (3) 3 (1) 13 (2)
Tree nuts: Walnuts 133 (4) 89 (6) 22 (2) 2 (1) 15 (3)
Tree nuts: Cashew 109 (3) 73 (5) 17 (2) 1 (*) 14 (2)
Tree nuts: Pecans 110 (3) 78 (5) 14 (2) 1 (*) 14 (2)
Tree nuts: Macadamia nuts 100 (3) 72 (5) 16 (2) 1 (*) 9 (2)
Tree nuts: Pistachios 109 (3) 66 (4) 23 (3) 1 (*) 15 (3)
Sesame seeds 53 (2) 31 (2) 10 (1) 2 (1) 9 (2)
Soybeans 105 (3) 31 (2) 45 (5) 5 (2) 16 (3)
Sulphur dioxide 103 (3) 39 (3) 31 (3) 4 (1) 15 (3)
Fruit 254 (7) 104 (7) 68 (7) 12 (4) 42 (7)
Vegetables 204 (6) 56 (4) 78 (8) 13 (4) 33 (6)
Other 247 (7) 77 (5) 91 (10) 12 (4) 35 (6)
Total (N) 3526 1470 919 319 561

Table 8: All foods resulting in adverse reactions by hypersensitivity

Food All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Celery 16 (1) 11 (2) 1 (*) - 3 (1)
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye barley or oats) 403 (26) 26 (6) 81 (19) 213 (92) 66 (21)
Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, scampi or lobsters) 58 (4) 28 (6) 13 (3) 1 (*) 14 (4)
Eggs 94 (6) 30 (6) 28 (7) - 25 (8)
Fish 44 (3) 18 (4) 9 (2) - 15 (5)
Lupin 12 (1) 6 (1) 1 (*) - 5 (2)
Milk 178 (11) 32 (7) 83 (19) 5 (2) 48 (15)
Molluscs (such as mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams or oysters) 29 (2) 12 (3) 9 (2) - 6 (2)
Mustard 17 (1) 5 (1) 3 (1) - 8 (3)
Peanuts 94 (6) 69 (15) 9 (2) - 12 (4)
Tree nuts 102 (7) 58 (13) 15 (3) - 19 (6)
Sesame seeds 13 (1) 9 (2) 2 (*) - 1 (*)
Soybeans 38 (2) 10 (2) 14 (3) 3 (1) 7 (2)
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites 28 (2) 10 (2) 14 (3) - 4 (1)
Fruit 117 (8) 59 (13) 22 (5) 1 (*) 25 (8)
Vegetables 84 (5) 12 (3) 43 (10) 4 (2) 15 (5)
Other 222 (14) 71 (15) 82 (19) 5 (2) 44 (14)
Total (N) 1549 466 429 232 317

Table 9: All symptoms usually experienced for all foods reported, according to hypersensitivity group

Symptoms reported All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Breathing 1821 (19) 1053 (28) 311 (94) 216 (99) 120 (92)
Skin 20 (2) 9 (3) 5 (2) - 4 (3)
Gastrointestinal 30 (3) 19 (6) 7 (2) - 1 (1)
Mouth/throat/ear 18 (2) 6 (2) 6 (2) - 4 (3)
Other 2 (*) 2 (1) - - -
Total (N) 1059 319 330 217 130

Table 10: Gastrointestinal symptoms for all foods reported, by hypersensitivity group

Gastrointestinal symptoms reported All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Bloated stomach 668 (16) 95 (13) 215 (18) 164 (16) 152 (16)
Abdominal pain/stomach cramps 783 (19) 145 (19) 241 (20) 172 (17) 168 (18)
Heart burn 223 (5) 49 (7) 63 (5) 36 (4) 44 (5)
Sickness/vomiting 783 (19) 240 (32) 166 (14) 166 (16) 165 (18)
Diarrhoea 637 (15) 104 (14) 180 (15) 168 (17) 145 (15)
Blood in stool 53 (1) 12 (2) 13 (1) 13 (1) 14 (1)
Dehydration 97 (2) 16 (2) 13 (1) 31 (3) 29 (3)
Loss of weight/malnutrition 106 (3) 10 (1) 13 (1) 52 (5) 30 (3)
Excessive wind 400 (10) 32 (4) 133 (11) 107 (11) 94 (10)
Irritable bowel symptoms 433 (10) 50 (7) 143 (12) 106 (10) 95 (10)
Total (N) 4183 753 1180 1015 936

Table 11: Breathing symptoms and anaphylaxis experienced for all foods reported, by hypersensitivity group 

Breathing symptoms reported All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Cough/sneezing 219 (11) 128 (11) 41 (15) 2 (7) 41 (10)
Runny nose 205 (10) 101 (8) 38 (14) 5 (18) 45 (11)
Irritable/ itchy nose 240 (12) 127 (11) 47 (17) 2 (7) 44 (11)
Congested nose 176 (9) 74 (6) 42 (15) 3 (11) 36 (9)
Wheezing 283 (14) 175 (15) 31 (11) 3 (11) 64 (16)
Tight chest 298 (15) 185 (15) 33 (12) 6 (21) 61 (15)
Breathless 263 (13) 173 (14) 20 (7) 5 (18) 50 (13)
Asthma 137 (7) 90 (8) 14 (5) 2 (7) 24 (6)
Anaphylaxis 190 (9) 141 (12) 8 (3) - 32 (8)
Total (N) 2011 1194 274 28 397

Table 12: Most severe symptoms ever experienced for all foods reported, by hypersensitivity group

Most severe symptoms reported All adults N (%) Food Allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Breathing 1069 (18) 611 (25) 163 (13) 16 (2) 220 (17)
Skin 1097 (18) 589 (24) 159 (13) 59 (8) 215 (16)
Gastrointestinal 2604 (43) 494 (20) 762 (62) 585 (80) 612 (46)
Mouth/throat/ear 811 (13) 507 (21) 79 (7) 15 (2) 158 (12)
Other 491 (8) 222 (9) 62 (5) 58 (8) 126 (9)
Total (N) 6072 2423 1225 733 1331

Table 13: Time period in which symptoms usually start, by hypersensitivity

Time symptoms usually start after eating the reported food All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple food hypersensitivities N (%)
Less than 5 minutes 378 (25) 216 (47) 51 (13) 5 (2) 76 (24)
5 to 30 minutes 451 (30) 138 (30) 141 (34) 38 (17) 100 (32)
30 minutes to 1 hour 257 (17) 56 (12) 80 (19) 50 (22) 58 (18)
1 to 2 hours 185 (12) 19 (4) 65 (16) 52 (23) 41 (13)
More than 2 hours 184 (12) 24 (5) 66 (16) 55 (24) 32 (10)
Don't know 63 (4) 6 (1) 12 (3) 26 (12) 9 (3)
Total (N) 1518 459 415 226 316

Table 14: Diagnosis method by hypersensitivity

Diagnosis method All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Healthcare professional’s diagnosis 312 (17) 122 (22) 76 (17) 17 (6) 77 (21)
Skin prick test 177 (10) 112 (20) 25 (6) - 32 (8)
Blood test (antibodies for allergen) 315 (17) 93 (17) 26 (6) 123 (43) 67 (18)
Food challenge 81 (4) 32 (6) 20 (4) 6 (2) 17 (5)
Not formally diagnosed but noticed symptoms themselves (self) 507 (28) 120 (21) 230 (51) 8 (3) 101 (28)
Complementary/alternative Therapist 56 (3) 9 (2) 24 (5) 3 (1) 18 (5)
Don’t know/can’t remember 81 (4) 21 (4) 14 (3) 2 (1) 11 (3)
Other 276 (15) 51 (9) 39 (9) 127 (44) 43 (12)
Total (N) 1805 560 454 286 366

Table 15: Frequency of reactions to all foods in the previous 12 months

Frequency of reactions All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Once 193 (13) 74 (16) 30 (7) 35 (15) 46 (15)
Twice 187 (12) 53 (12) 57 (14) 33 (14) 33 (10)
Between 3 and 6 times 257 (17) 69 (15) 89 (22) 44 (19) 40 (13)
Between 7 and 10 times 68 (4) 12 (3) 28 (7) 8 (4) 19 (6)
More than 10 times 177 (12) 39 (8) 72 (17) 13 (6) 33 (10)
I haven’t reacted to this food in the last year 542 (36) 191 (42) 114 (28) 81 (36) 122 (39)
Don't know 87 (6) 18 (4) 21 (5) 14 (6) 22 (7)
Total (N) 1511 456 411 228 315

Table 16: Where adults experienced their most recent adverse reaction, by hypersensitivity

Where reaction occurred All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Home 901 (62) 249 (56) 288 (72) 134 (63) 163 (53)
Work 106 (7) 30 (7) 19 (5) 13 (6) 37 (12)
Family and friends house 100 (7) 35 (8) 20 (5) 4 (2) 34 (11)
Public transport 21 (1) 10 (2) 5 (1) 2 (1) 3 (1)
Eating out 204 (14) 72 (16) 46 (12) 33 (15) 42 (14)
Other 80 (5) 36 (8) 18 (3) 11 (5) 16 (5)
Can't remember 49 (3) 13 (3) 8 (2) 16 (8) 12 (4)
Total (N) 1461 445 399 213 307

Table 17: Who treated adult respondents' most recent reactions across hypersensitivities

Who treated reaction All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
I treated the reaction myself 1114 (74) 300 (64) 333 (81) 182 (85) 222 (70)
I had medical help for my reaction 223 (15) 114 (24) 39 (9) 9 (4) 47 (15)
Someone else helped me to treat the reaction 71 (5) 27 (6) 12 (3) 4 (2) 22 (7)
I have not reacted to this food before 17 (1) 4 (1) 5 (1) 3 (1) 3 (1)
Can’t remember 87 (6) 25 (5) 21 (5) 15 (7) 22 (7)
Total 1512 470 410 213 216

Table 18: Experience of anaphylaxis across all foods reported

Experience of anaphylaxis All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 351 (24) 201 (44) 42 (10) 4 (2) 91 (29)
No 1007 (68) 194 (43) 335 (83) 209 (93) 200 (65)
Not sure 126 (8) 57 (13) 25 (6) 11 (5) 19 (6)
Total (N) 1484 452 402 224 310

Table 19: Experience of anaphylaxis in the last 12 months across all foods reported

Experience of anaphylaxis in last 12 months All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 213 (14) 96 (21) 33 (8) 4 (2) 64 (21)
No 1198 (81) 322 (72) 357 (89) 216 (96) 234 (75)
Not sure 70 (5) 31 (7) 12 (3) 4 (2) 12 (4)
Total (N) 1481 449 402 224 310

Table 20: Frequency of hospital admissions in the last 12 months, for all foods reported

Frequency of admission for those admitted to hospital All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Haven’t been admitted in the last 12 months 161 (53) 84 (54) 23 (58) 16 (80) 28 (38)
Once 75 (25) 42 (27) 8 (20) 3 (15) 19 (26)
Twice 23 (8) 8 (5) 5 (13) - 9 (12)
Between 3 and 6 times 25 (8) 13 (8) 2 (5) - 9 (12)
Between 7 and 10 times 8 (3) 2 (1) 2 (5) - 4 (5)
More than 10 times 7 (2) 4 (3) - - 3 (4)
Don't know 6 (2) 3 (2) - 1 (5) 1 (1)
Total (N) 305 156 40 20 73

Table 21: Admission to hospital in an emergency the first time participants reacted to their stated food

Admission to hospital for first reaction to food All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
Yes 221 (75) 114 (77) 26 (67) 5 (26) 64 (86)
No 75 (25) 34 (23) 13 (33) 14 (74) 10 (14)
Total (N) 296 148 39 19 74

Table 22: Frequency of eating out or getting food to take away from a restaurant or other food outlet, by hypersensitivity

Frequency All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
At least once a day 13 (1) 6 (2) 1 (*) 1 (*) 5 (4)
5 to 6 times a week 18 (2) 6 (2) 4 (1) 1 (*) 6 (5)
3 to 4 times a week 44 (4) 15 (5) 13 (4) 6 (3) 7 (6)
Once or twice a week 168 (17) 63 (21) 45 (15) 33 (16) 17 (13)
Once a fortnight 174 (117) 59 (20) 56 (18) 31 (15) 22 (17)
Once a month 184 (18) 57 (19) 56 (18) 31 (15) 22 (17)
Less than once a month 313 (31) 69 (23) 99 (32) 85 (40) 42 (33)
Never 82 (8) 25 (8) 30 (10) 7 (3) 13 (10)
Total (N) 996 300 306 211 126

Table 23: How comfortable adult respondents feel asking a member of staff for information about the food they are selling when eating out, by food hypersensitivity

Level of confidence in information provided All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
Very or fairly confident 576 (63) 177 (64) 161 (59) 137 (67) 73 (64)
Not very or not at all confident 238 (26) 75 (27) 72 (26) 50 (24) 31 (27)
Varies from place to place 79 (9) 21 (8) 27 (10) 18 (9) 8 (7)
Don't know 24 (3) 5 (2) 13 (5) - 2 (2)
Total (N) 917 278 273 205 114

Table 24: Confidence that written information provided when eating out allows identification of foods that cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction, by food hypersensitivity

Level of confidence in information provided All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
Very or fairly confident 549 (60) 159 (57) 173 (63) 138 (67) 57 (50)
Not very or not at all confident 262 (29) 87 (31) 64 (25) 49 (24) 43 (38)
Varies from place to place 84 (9) 23 (8) 24 (9) 18 (9) 13 (12)
Don't know 22 (2) 10 (4) 9 (3) - -
Total (N) 917 279 273 205 113

Table 25: Confidence that verbal information provided when eating out allows identification of foods that cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction, by food hypersensitivity

Level of confidence in information provided All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
Very or fairly confident 475 (52) 143 (51) 151 (55) 107 (52) 53 (46)
Not very or not at all confident 312 (34) 100 (36) 85 (31) 66 (32) 41 (36)
Varies from place to place 106 (12) 28 (10) 26 (10) 31 (15) 19 (17)
Don't know 24 (3) 8 (3) 11 (4) - 1 (1)
Total (N) 917 279 273 204 114

Table 26: Frequency of adults being offered allergens in the last 12 months, despite checking available information

Frequency of being offered food All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
Once 158 (18) 49 (18) 36 (14) 33 (17) 34 (31)
Twice 102 (12) 20 (7) 33 (13) 32 (16) 14 (13)
Between 3 to 6 times 64 (7) 20 (7) 13 (5) 13 (7) 15 (14)
Between 7 to 10 times 12 (1) 2 (1) 6 (2) 1 (1) 1 (1)
More than 10 times 9 (1) 4 (1) 2 (1) 2 (1) 1 (1)
This hasn't happened in the last 12 months 515 (60) 172 (64) 159 (64) 113 (58) 46 (41)
Total 860 267 249 194 111

Table 27: Comparisons for adult participants taking part in Wave 1 and Wave 2 surveys

Wave All adults N (%) Food allergy N (%) Food intolerances N (%) Coeliac disease N (%) Multiple hypersensitivities N (%)
Wave 1 1019 (100) 170 (16.7) 216 (21.2) 409 (40.1) 135 (13.2)
Wave 2 1065 (100) 323 (30.3) 330 (31.0) 217 (20.4) 131 (12)
Both Waves 313 (100) 44 38 162 (52) 56

Annex B – Parents of children with food hypersensitivities 

Table 28: Ethnicity of parent respondents by child’s food hypersensitivity

Ethnicity All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
White British/Irish 657 353 (88) 159 (90) 18 (86) 109 (82)
Mixed/multiple ethnicity 27 13 (3) 2 (1) - 11 (8)
Asian (Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani) background 42  19 (5) 10 (6) 2 (10) 10 (8)
Black British/African/Caribbean 19 11 (3) 5 (3) 1 (5) 2 (2)
Arab - - - - -
Other ethnic group - - - - -
Total (N) 745 399 176 21 132

Table 29: Region of parent respondents, by child’s food hypersensitivity

Region All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Scotland 64 (9) 31 (8) 19 (11) - 13 (10)
Northern Ireland 20 (3) 9 (2) 9 (5) - 2 (1)
Wales 32 (4) 15 (4) 8 (5) 1 (5) 8 (6)
North East of England 30 (4) 13 (3) 5 (3) 1 (5) 9 (7)
North West of England 75 (10) 42 (11) 12 (7) 3 (14) 15 (11)
Yorkshire and the Humber 59 (8) 33 (8) 15 (9) 1 (5) 9 (7)
East of England 64 (9) 36 (9) 16 (9) 2 (10) (75)
East Midlands 43 (6) 23 (6) 12 (7) - 8 (6)
West Midlands 79 (11) 46 (12) 15 (9) 2 (10) 14 (10)
London 126 (17) 66 (17) 20 (11) 6 (29) 31 (23)
South West of England 55 (7) 32 (8) 14 (8) - 6 (4)
South East of England 104 (14) 53 (13) 31 (18) 5 (24) 12 (9)
Total (N) 750 399 176 21 134

Table 30: Parent respondent employment status, by child’s hypersensitivity

Employment status  All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance N (%) Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Full-time 388 (52) 194 (49) 88 (51) 8 (38) 86 (64)
Part-time 198 (27) 116 (29) 39 (23) 8 (38) 33 (25)
Unemployed 10 (1) 3 (1) 3 (2) - 4 (3)
Not working 124 (17) 68 (17) 37 (22) 5 (24) 10 (7)
Not working (retired) 1 (*) 1 (*) - - -
Student 11 (2) 5 (1) 4 (2) - 1 (1)
Other 10 (1) 8 (2) 1 (1) - -
Total (N) 742 395 172 21 134

Table 31: Ethnicity of children reported by parents, by child’s hypersensitivity

Ethnicity All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
White British/Irish 778 (84) 358 (84) 164 (90) 21 (88) 213 (80)
Mixed/multiple ethnicity 73 (8) 40 (9) 7 (4) 2 (8) 21 (8)
Asian (Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani) background 48 (5) 17 (4) 10 (5) - 21 (8)
Black British/African/Caribbean 23 (2) 11 (3) 1 (1) 1 (4) 10 (4)
Arab - - - - -
Other ethnic group - - - - -
Total (N) 922 426 182 24 265

Table 32: All foods (no limit on numbers reported) children of participants react to, by child’s hypersensitivity 

Food All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Celery 113 (4) 21 (1) 10 (3) 2 (4) 78 (10)
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley or oats) 193 (6) 42 (2) 37 (10) 19 (42) 88 (11)
Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, scampi or lobsters) 99 (3) 33 (2) 14 (4) 3 (7) 48 (6)
Eggs 317 (10) 166 (9) 53 (15) 1 (2) 87 (11)
Fish 130 (4) 50 (3) 23 (6) 2 (4) 50 (6)
Lupin 45 (1) 10 (1) 4 (1) 3 (7) 24 (3)
Milk 352 (12) 161 (9) 106 (29) 3 (7) 71 (9)
Molluscs (such as mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams or oysters) 33 (1) 19 (1) 3 (1) 1 (2) 8 (1)
Mustard 47 (2) 19 (1) 5 (1) 1 (2) 22 (3)
Peanuts 236 (8) 173 (10) 15 (4) 2 (4) 41 (5)
Tree nuts: Almonds 130 (4) 98 (6) 2 (1) - 26 (3)
Tree nuts: Hazelnuts 151 (5) 109 (6) 8 (2) 1 (2) 30 (4)
Tree nuts: Brazil nuts 120 (4) 89 (5) 4 (1) 1 (2) 24 (3)
Tree nuts: Walnuts 131 (4) 104 (6) 3 (1) 1 (2) 21 (3)
Tree nuts: Cashew nuts 151 (5) 111 (6) 8 (2) 1 (2) 27 (3)
Tree nuts: Pecans 118 (4) 87 (5) 3 (1) - 26 (3)
Tree nuts: Macadamia nuts 101 (3) 82 (5) 2 (1) 1 (2) 14 (2)
Tree nuts: Pistachios 134 (4) 101 (6) 2 (1) - 29 (4)
Sesame seed 100 (3) 69 (4) 7 (2) - 22 (3)
Soybeans 90 (3) 49 (3) 15 (4) - 23 (3)
Sulphur dioxide 19 (1) 6 (*) 4 (1) - 6 (1)
Fruit 100 (3) 71 (4) 13 (4) 1 (2) 13 (2)
Vegetables 59 (2) 34 (2) 9 (3) 1 (2) 12 (2)
Other 83 (3) 58 (3) 10 (3) 1 (2) 10 (1)
Total (N) 3052 1762 360 45 800

Table 33: All foods resulting in an adverse reaction, by child’s hypersensitivity 

All foods All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
(N%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Celery 69 (5) 14 (2) 3 (1) 2 (7) 51 (8)
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley or oats) 118 (8) 19 (3) 21 (10) 15 (52) 59 (9)
Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, scampi or lobsters) 41 (3) 5 (1) 6 (3) - 28 (4)
Eggs 215 (14) 107 (18) 30 (15) 3 (10) 70 (11)
Fish 87 (6) 23 (4) 12 (6) - 47 (7)
Lupin 25 (2) 2 (*) - - 23 (4)
Milk 296 (19) 133 (22) 90 (44) 3 (10) 63 (10)
Molluscs (such as mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams or oysters) 14 (1) 2 (*) - - 12 (2)
Mustard 14 (1) 3 (*) 1 (*) - 10 (2)
Peanuts 142 (9) 111 (18) 3 (1) - 26 (4)
Tree nuts 198 (13) 91 (15) 10 (5) 4 (14) 190 (30)
Sesame seed 40 (3) 27 (4) - - 12 (2)
Soybeans 46 (3) 15 (2) 4 (2) - 23 (4)
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites 14 (1) - 2 (1) - 10 (2)
Fruit  49 (3) 32 (5) 8 (4) 1 (3) 7 (1)
Vegetables 17 (1) 9 (1) 3 (1) 1 (3) 2 (*)
Other 38 (2) 18 (3) 12 (6) - 5
Total (N) 1523 611 205 29 638

Table 34: All symptoms usually experienced by all children reported by parent respondents, according to child’s hypersensitivity 

Symptoms reported All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Breathing 2745 (27) 1401 (30) 236 (22) 16 (14) 1022 (26)
Skin 2444 (24) 1340 (28) 209 (20) 16 (14) 826 (21)
Gastrointestinal 2795 (28) 1067 (23) 506 (48) 67 (58) 1076 (27)
Mouth/throat/ear 1250 (12) 643 (14) 52 (5) 6 (5) 521 (13)
Other 894 (9) 278 (6) 45 (4) 10 (9) 534 (13)
Total (N) 10,128 4729 1048 115 3979

Table 35: Gastrointestinal symptoms for all foods reported, by child’s hypersensitivity 

Gastrointestinal symptoms reported All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Bloated stomach 350 (13) 125 (12) 98 (19) 12 (18) 107 (10)
Abdominal pain/stomach cramps 501 (18) 221 (21) 108 (21) 15 (22) 146 (14)
Heart burn 208 (7) 37 (3) 17 (3) 6 (9) 141 (13)
Sickness/vomiting 764 (27) 356 (33) 89 (18) 16 (24) 283 (26)
Diarrhoea 403 (14) 160 (15) 94 (19) 5 (7) 137 (13)
Blood in stool 102 (4) 23 (2) 4 (1) 2 (3) 70 (7)
Dehydration 83 (3) 23 (2) 8 (2) - 48 (4)
Loss of weight/malnutrition 69 (2) 14 (1) 4 (1) 4 (6) 44 (4)
Excessive wind 171 (6) 63 (6) 41 (8) 4 (6) 57 (5)
Irritable bowel symptoms 144 (5) 45 (4) 43 (8) 4 (4) 43 (4)
Total (N) 2795 1067 506 67 1076

Table 36: Breathing symptoms and anaphylaxis experienced by all children reported on for all foods, by child’s hypersensitivity

Breathing symptoms reported All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Cough/sneezing 478 (16) 255 (16) 31 (13) 1 (6) 181 (17)
Runny nose 459 (19) 182 (12) 52 (22) 1 (6) 214 (20)
Irritable/ itchy nose 421 (14) 176 (12) 39 (16) 8 (50) 190 (17)
Congested nose 288 (10) 115 (7) 26 (11) 3 (19) 132 (12)
Wheezing 385 (13) 220 (14) 27 (11) 1 (6) 124 (11)
Tight chest 290 (10) 172 (11) 26 (11) 1 (6) 85 (8)
Breathless 285 (10) 187 (12) 17 (7) 1 (6) 73 (7)
Asthma 139 (5) 94 (6) 18 (8) - 23 (2)
Anaphylaxis 232 (8) 161 (10) 4 (2) - 64 (6)
Total (N) 2977 1562 240 16 1086

Table 37: Most severe symptoms ever experienced across all foods reported, by child’s hypersensitivity

Most severe symptoms reported All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Breathing 1889 (25) 746 (26) 153 (21) 12 (15) 930 (25)
Skin 1763 (23) 808 (28) 136 (18) 9 (12) 774 (21)
Gastrointestinal 2090 (28) 699 (24) 364 (49) 41 (53) 944 (26)
Mouth/throat/ear 965 (13) 382 (13) 49 (7) 8 (10) 504 (14)
Other 856 (11) 254 (8) 43 (6) 8 (10) 532 (14)
Total (N) 7563 2889 745 78 3684

Table 38: Time period in which symptoms usually start, by child’s hypersensitivity 

Time symptoms usually start after eating the reported foods All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Less than 5 mins 400 (27) 282 (49) 25 (13) 4 (15) 81 (13)
5 to 30 mins 480 (33) 166 (29) 95 (48) 5 (19) 211 (34)
30 mins to 1 hour 284 (19) 48 (8) 38 (19) 5 (19) 188 (30)
1 to 2 hours 193 (10) 30 (5) 19 (10) 3 (11) 81 (13)
More than 2 hours 104 (7) 24 (4) 21 (11) 4 (15) 48 (8)
Don't know 51 (3) 29 (5) 2 (1) 6 (22) 9 (1)
Total (N) 1462 579 200 27 618

Table 39: Diagnosis method for all foods, by child’s food hypersensitivity 

Diagnosis method All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Healthcare professional’s diagnosis 395 (21) 142 (18) 70 (33) 4 (15) 174 (22)
Skin prick test 463 (25) 267 (33) 26 (12) 3 (11) 158 (20)
Blood test (antibodies for specified food) 425 (23) 194 (24) 23 (11) 12 (44) 190 (24)
Food challenge 179 (9) 71 (9) 18 (8) - 82 (10)
Not formally diagnosed but noticed symptoms  260 (14) 62 (8) 71 (33) 3 (11) 117 (15)
Complementary alternative therapist 56 (3) 12 (1) 2 (1) 1 (4) 41 (5)
Don’t know/can’t remember 25 (1) 6 (1) 3 (1) 1 (4) 9 (1)
Other 82 (4) 55 (7) 2 (1) 3 (11) 18 (2)
Total (N) 1885 809 215 27 789

Table 40: Frequency of reactions to first food in the previous 12 months 

Frequency of reactions All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Once 279 (19) 99 (17) 23 (12) 6 (23) 147 (24)
Twice 300 (21) 98 (17) 47 (24) 4 (15) 141 (23)
Between 3 and 6 times 288 (20) 95 (16) 56 (28) 6 (23) 125 (21)
Between 7 and 10 times 112 (8) 17 (3) 18 (9) 1 (4) 74 (12)
More than 10 times 84 (6) 30 (5) 25 (13) 3 (12) 24 (4)
They haven’t reacted to this food in the last year 350 (24) 229 (39) 25 (13) 5 (19) 81 (13)
Don't know 33 (2) 12 (2) 3 (2) 1 (4) 12 (2)
Total (N) 1446 580 197 26 604

Table 41: Where parents report their child’s most recent experience of an adverse reactions to foods occurred, by hypersensitivity

Where reaction occurred All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Home 715 (52) 348 (64) 141 (73) 9 (39) 191 (33)
School 189 (14) 61 (11) 20 (10) 3 (13) 103 (18)
Work 145 (10) 14 (3) 9 (5) 4 (17) 93 (16)
Family and friends house 137 (10) 29 (5) 10 (5) 4 (17) 93 (16)
Public transport 51 (4) 6 (1) 2 (1) 1 (4) 40 (7)
Eating out 64 (5) 39 (7) 2 (1) - 22 (4)
Other 58 (4) 35 (6) 5 (3) 2 (9) 7 (3)
Can't remember 23 (2) 11 (2) 3 (2) - 15 (1)
Total (N) 1382 543 192 23 587

Table 42: Who treated childrens' most recent reactions, reported by parents, across hypersensitivities

Who treated reaction All adults
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
I treated the reaction myself 710 (45) 366 (59) 123 (57) 11 (42) 192 (29)
My child treated the reaction themselves 292 (19) 36 (6) 52 (24) 7 (27) 186 (28)
They had medical help for their reaction 360 (23) 148 (24) 26 (12) 3 (12) 178 (26)
Someone else helped them to treat the reaction 127 (8) 26 (4) 7 (3) 3 (12) 91 (14)
They have not reacted to this food before 45 (3) 28 (5) 2 (1) 2 (8) 13 (2)
Can't remember 38 (2) 13 (2) 6 (3) - 12 (2)
Total 1572 617 216 26 272

Table 43: Experience of anaphylaxis across all foods reported

Experience of anaphylaxis All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 657 (47) 223 (41) 28 (15) 3 (12) 391 (66)
No 645 (46) 263 (48) 159 (83) 22 (85) 181 (30)
Not sure 97 (7) 64 (12) 4 (2) 1 (4) 22 (4)
Total (N) 1399 550 191 26 594

Table 44: Experience of anaphylaxis in the last 12 months, across all foods reported

Experience of anaphylaxis in the last 12 months All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 488 (35) 118 (21) 20 (11) 3 (13) 338 (57)
No 825 (59) 389 (71) 160 (85) 20 (83) 232 (39)
Not sure 79 (6) 43 (8) 9 (5) 1 (4) 21 (4)
Total (N) 1392  550 189 24 591

Table 45: Frequency of hospital admissions for children, as reported by their parents

Frequency of admission for those admitted to hospital All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Haven’t been admitted in the last 12 months 162 (23) 109 (50) 10 (25) 1 (25) 40 (9)
Once 185 (26) 56 (26) 13 (33) 1 (25) 114 (27)
Twice 177 (25) 40 (18) 13 (33) 1 (25) 121 (28)
Between 3 and 6 times 108 (15) 7 (3) 3 (8) 1 (25) 93 (22)
Between 7 and 10 times 46 (7) 1 (*) - - 42 (10)
More than 10 times 16 (2) 2 (1) - - 14 (3)
Don't know 6 (1) 3 (1) 1 (3) - 1 (*)
Total (N) 700 218 40 4 425

Table 46: Admission to hospital for a child's first time reaction to a food, reported by parents

Admission to hospital for first reaction to food All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 539 (79) 164 (76) 28 (70) 3 (75) 336 (82)
No 144 (21) 53 (24) 12 (30) 1 (25) 75 (18)
Total (N) 683 217 40 4 411

Table 47: Frequency of parents’ households eating out or getting food to takeaway, by child’s hypersensitivity

Frequency All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
At least once a day 24 (4) 8 (2) 4 (3) 2 (10) 9 (8)
5-6 times a week 34 (5) 9 (3) 5 (3) - 19 (16)
3-4 times a week 43 (7) 14 (4) 4 (3) 1 (5) 22 (18)
Once or twice a week 119 (18) 64 (19) 30 (19) 5 (25) 18 (15)
Once a fortnight 127 (19) 69 (20) 36 (23) 5 (25) 17 (14)
Once a month 123 (19) 68 (20) 36 (23) 3 (15) 12 (10)
Less than once a month 139 (21) 83 (24) 34 (22) 4 (20) 14 (12)
Never 37 (6) 24 (7) 7 (4) - 4 (3)
Don't know 7 (1) 1 (8) 1 (1) - 4 (3)
Total (N) 653 340 157 20 119

Table 48: How comfortable parent respondents feel about asking a member of staff for information about the food they are selling when eating out, because of a concern about their child’s food hypersensitivity, by child’s hypersensitivity

Level of comfort asking for information All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Very or fairly comfortable 433 (72) 231 (74) 114 (77) 12 (63) 70 (65)
Not very or not at all comfortable 126 (21) 62 (20) 22 (15) 5 (26) 32 (30)
Varies from place to place 35 (6) 18 (6) 10 (7) 2 (11) 4 (4)
Don't know 8 (1) 2 (1) 3 (2) - 1 (1)
Total (N) 602 313 149 19 107

Table 49: Confidence that written information provided when eating out allows the identification of foods that cause their child a bad or unpleasant physical reaction, by child’s food hypersensitivity 

Level of confidence in information provided All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Very or fairly confident 390 (65) 201 (64) 110 (73) 10 (53) 64 (60)
Not very or not at all confident 148 (25) 79 (25) 24 (16) 6 (32) 34 (32)
Varies from place to place 53 (9) 31 (10) 11 (7) 3 (16) 8 (7)
Don't know 13 (2) 3 (1) 5 (3) - 1 (1)
Total (N) 604 314 150 19 107

Table 50: Confidence that information provided verbally by staff when eating out allows the identification of foods that cause their child a bad or unpleasant physical reaction, by child’s food hypersensitivity

Level of confidence in information provided verbally by staff All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Very or fairly confident 335 (55) 158 (50) 108 (72) 5 (26) 60 (55)
Not very or not at all confident 206 (34) 118 (38) 31 (21) 9 (47) 44 (40)
Varies from place to place 55 (9) 35 (11) 8 (5) 5 (26) 4 (4)
Don't know 10 (2)  3 (1) 3 (2) 1 (1)
Total (N) 606 314 150 19 109

Table 51: Frequency that parent respondents report their child being served a food that they may react to in the last 12 months, despite reviewing available information, by child’s hypersensitivity

Frequency of being offered allergens All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Once 139 (23) 78 (25) 28 (19) 5 (26) 26 (24)
Twice 87 (14) 35 (11) 22 (15) - 26 (24)
Between 3- 6 times 58 (10) 15 (5) 14 (9) 2 (11) 24 (22)
Between 7 -10 times 8 (1) 3 (1) - 2 (11) 3 (3)
More than 10 times 3 (1) 2 (1) 1 (1) - -
This hasn’t happened in the last 12 months 309 (51) 181 (58) 84 (56) 10 (53) 29 (27)
Total 604 314 149 19 108

Table 52: Comparisons for parents taking part at both Wave 1 and Wave 2

Wave All parents
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Wave 1 793 496 (50) 156 (20) 39 (5) 95 (12)
Wave 2 750 399 (53) 176 (23) 21 (3) 134 (18)
Both waves  77 51 (66) 7 (9) 8 (10) 9 (12)

 

Annex C – Children (8-17 years) with food hypersensitivities 

Table 53: Ethnicity, by food hypersensitivity

Ethnicity All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
White British/Irish 300 (86) 118 (84) 123 (88) 28 (97) 15 (71)
Mixed/multiple ethnicity 18 (5) 7 (5) 7 (5) 1 (3) 2 (10)
Asian (Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani) background 17 (5) 10 (7) 4 (3) - 1 (5)
Black British/African/Caribbean 10 (3) 4 (3) 5 (4) - 1 (5)
Arab 1 (*) - - - 1 (5)
Other ethnic group 1 (*) - - - 1 (5)
Total (N) 347 139 139 29 21

Table 54: Region by food hypersensitivity

Region All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Scotland 27 (8) 10 (7) 14 (10) 1 (3) -
Northern Ireland 4 (1) 1 (1) 2 (1) - 1 (5)
Wales 20 (6) 4 (3) 8 (6) 4 (14) 4 (19)
North East of England 14 (4) 5 (4) 4 (3) 2 (7) 1 (5)
North West of England 48 (14) 18 (3) 22 (16) 5 (17) 2 (10)
Yorkshire and the Humber 33 (9) 16 (11) 11 (8) 2 (7) -
East of England 30 (9) 7 (5) 16 (12) 2 (7) 1 (5)
East Midlands 25 (7) 13 (9) 8 (6) 3 (10) -
West Midlands 26 (7) 14 (10) 9 (6) 3 (10) -
London 50 (14) 29 (21) 14 (10) 2 (7) 4 (19)
South West of England 24 (7) 11 (8) 8 (6) 2 (7) 2 (10)
South East of England 48 (14) 13 (9) 23 (17) 3 (10) 6 (29)
Total (N) 359 141 139 29 21

Table 55: All foods child respondents reacted to (no limit on numbers reported), by hypersensitivity

All foods reacted to All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Celery 30 (3) 7 (1) 7 (3) 5 (8) 10 (11)
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley or oats) 72 (8) 17 (3) 28 (11) 18 (28) 6 (7)
Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, scampi or lobsters) 37 (4) 17 (3) 10 (4) 2 (3) 6 (7)
Eggs 81 (8) 32 (6) 25 (10) 11 (17) 9 (10)
Fish 43 (5) 22 (4) 6 (2) 2 (3) 10 (11)
Lupin 12 (1) 6 (1) 1 (*) 2 (3) 3 (3)
Milk 103 (11) 24 (5) 57 (22) 5 (8) 9 (10)
Molluscs (such as mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams or oysters) 15 (2) 4 (1) 9 (4) 1 (2) 1 (1)
Mustard 17 (2) 5 (1) 3 (1) 3 (5) 4 (4)
Peanuts 71 (7) 57 (12) 12 (5) - 1 (1)
Tree nuts: Almond 50 (5) 35 (7) 9 (4) 1 (2) 4 (4)
Tree nuts: Hazelnuts 47 (5) 34 (7) 4 (2) 2 (3) 6 (7)
Tree nuts: Brazil nuts 38 (4) 30 (6) 5 (2) - 2 (2)
Tree nuts: Walnuts 40 (4) 31 (6) 4 (2) 2 (3) 2 (2)
Tree nuts: Cashew nuts 45 (5) 34 (7) 4 (2) 3 (5) 3 (3)
Tree nuts: Pecans 42 (4) 29 (6) 7 (3) 1 (2) 4 (4)
Tree nuts: Macadamia nuts 39 (4) 29 (6) 4 (2) 2 (3) 2 (2)
Tree nuts: Pistachios 43 (5) 31 (6) 7 (3) - 4 (4)
Sesame seed 18 (2) 9 (2) 4 (2) 1 (2) 4 (4)
Soybeans 17 (2) 7 (1) 7 (3) 1 (2) -
Sulphur dioxide 10 (1) 2 (*) 5 (2) 1 (2) 2 (2)
Fruit 38 (4) 21 (4) 13 (5) - -
Vegetables 20 (2) 7 (1) 10 (4) 1 (2) -
Other 27 (3) 5 (1) 16 (6) 1 (2) -
Total (N) 955 495 257 65 92

Table 56: All foods resulting in adverse reactions, by food hypersensitivity

Food resulting in adverse reaction All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Celery 15 (3)  - 4 (3) 4 (11) 2 (3)
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley or oats) 50 (11) 5 (3) 25 (16) 16 (46) 4 (7)
Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, scampi or lobsters) 18 (4) 11 (7) 4 (3) - 3 (5)
Eggs 42 (10) 17 (11) 18 (11) 2 (6) 4 (7)
Fish 34 (8) 19 (12) 7 (4) 2 (6) 5 (8)
Lupin 3 (1) 1 (1) - - 2 (3)
Milk 78 (18) 12 (8) 53 (33) 3 (9) 4 (7)
Molluscs (such as mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams or oysters) 8 (2) 1 (1) 3 (2) 2 (6) 2 (3)
Mustard 4 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (3) 1 (2)
Peanuts 52 (12) 45 (28) 7 (4) - -
Tree nuts 57 (13) 20 (13) 6 (4) 4 (11) 26 (43)
Sesame seed 8 (2) 2 (1) - - 6 (10)
Soy bean 6 (1) 3 (2) 2 (1) - -
Sulphur dioxide and sulphites 4 (1) - 2 (1) - -
Fruit 30 (7) 16 (10) 12 (8) - -
Vegetables 5 (1) 2 (1) 3 (2) - -
Other 26 (6) 4 (3) 13 (8) 1 (3) 2 (3)
Total (N) 440 159 160 35 61

Table 57: All symptoms usually experienced for all foods, according to hypersensitivity group

Symptoms All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Breathing 640 (25) 315 (30) 147 (19) 50 (30) 113 (26)
Skin 586 (23) 288 (28) 149 (20) 41 (17) 96 (22)
Gastrointestinal 868 (34) 205 (20) 394 (52) 110 (45) 109 (25)
Mouth/throat/ear 299 (12) 162 (16) 48 (6) 22 (9) 63 (14)
Other 183 (7) 67 (6) 26 (3) 23 (9) 60 (14)
Total N 2576 1037 764 246 441

Table 58: Gastrointestinal symptoms experienced for all foods reported, according to hypersensitivity

Gastrointestinal symptoms reported All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Bloated stomach 128 (15) 21 (10) 74 (19) 15 (14) 8 (7)
Abdominal pain/stomach cramps 157 (18) 35 (17) 84 (21) 20 (18) 10 (9)
Heart burn 62 (7) 20 (10) 15 (4) 3 (3) 21 (19)
Sickness/vomiting 212 (24) 74 (36) 70 (18) 28 (25) 29 (27)
Diarrhoea 134 (15) 30 (15) 72 (18) 15 (14) 11 (10)
Blood in stool 19 (2) 2 (1) 2 (1) 5 (5) 9 (8)
Dehydration 22 (3) 5 (2) 3 (1) 5 (5) 8 (7)
Loss of weight/malnutrition 19 (2) 4 (2) 4 (1) 5 (5) 4 (4)
Excessive wind 55 (6) 7 (3) 36 (9) 5 (5) 5 (5)
Irritable bowel symptoms 60 (7) 7 (3) 34 (9) 9 (8) 4 (4)
Total (N) 868 205 394 110 109

Table 59: Breathing symptoms and anaphylaxis experienced for all foods reported, according to hypersensitivity

Breathing symptoms reported All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple
hypersensitivities
N (%)
Cough/sneezing 85 (13) 45 (13) 12 (8) 4 (8) 21 (18)
Runny nose 99 (15) 31 (9) 27 (18) 11 (22) 23 (19)
Irritable/itchy nose 97 (15) 44 (13) 28 (19) 7 (14) 18 (15)
Congested nose 47 (7) 25 (7) 12 (8) 7 (14) 13 (11)

Wheezing

93 (14) 51 (15) 20 (13) 6 (12) 15 (13)
Tight chest 97 (15) 58 (17) 23 (15) 6 (12) 9 (8)
Breathless 85 (13) 47 (14) 19 (13) 6 (12) 10 (8)
Asthma 37 (6) 24 (7) 6 (4) 3 (5) 4 (3)
Anaphylaxis 28 (4) 18 (5) 3 (2) 1 (2) 6 (5)
Total (N) 668 343 150 51 119

Table 60: Most severe symptoms ever experienced for all foods, by hypersensitivity group

Most severe symptoms reported All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Breathing 457 (24) 191 (28) 100 (18) 44 (25) 108 (26)
Skin 421 (22) 201 (30) 104 (18) 29 (16) 82 (20)
Gastrointestinal 626 (33) 137 (20) 289 (51) 64 (36) 108 (26)
Mouth/throat/ear 232 (12) 99 (15) 49 (9) 18 (10) 54 (13)
Other 168 (9) 49 (7) 26 (5) 23 (313) 67 (16)
Total (N) 1895 677 568 178 519

Table 61: Time period in which symptoms usually start, by hypersensitivity

Time symptoms usually start after eating the reported food All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Less than 5 mins 102 (23) 53 (34) 32 (20) 2 (6) 12 (20)
5 to 30 mins 178 (41) 75 (48) 64 (40) 11 (31) 18 (30)
30 mins to 1 hour 80 (18) 16 (10) 35 (22) 10 (29) 14 (23)
1 to 2 hours 37 (9) 4 (3) 13 (8) 9 (26) 8 (13)
More than 2 hours 27 (6) 3 (2) 12 (8) 1 (3) 7 (11)
Don't know 11 (3) 4 (3) 3 (2) 2 (6) 2 (3)
Total N  435 155 159 35 61

Table 62: Diagnosis method, by hypersensitivity

Diagnosis method All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Healthcare professional’s diagnosis 82 (15) 38 (19) 25 (13) 8 (17) 10 (15)
Skin prick test 77 (14) 44 (22) 15 (8) 4 (9) 12 (18)
Blood test 86 (16) 34 (17) 14 (7) 18 (39) 18 (26)
Food challenge 44 (8) 16 (8) 17 (9) 3 (7) 6 (9)
No formally diagnosed but noticed symptoms themselves 111 (21) 25 (12) 62 (31) 3 (7) 14 (21)
Caregiver told me I reacted to it 105 (20) 35 (17) 54 (27) 4 (9) 7 (10)
Don’t know/can’t remember 21 (4) 7 (3) 8 (4) 1 (2) 1 (1)
Other 11 (2) 3 (1) 2 (1) 5 (11) -
Total (N) 537 202 197 46 68

Table 63: Frequency of reactions to all foods in the previous 12 months

Frequency of reactions All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Once 88 (21) 34 (22) 20 (13) 5 (15) 24 (41)
Twice 107 (25) 44 (28) 31 (20) 9 (27) 17 (29)
Between 3 and 6 times 82 (19) 19 (12) 42 (27) 9 (27) 9 (15)
Between 7 and 10 times 23 (5) 5 (3) 10 (6) 5 (15) 3 (5)
More than 10 times 41 (10) 9 (6) 25 (16) 3 (9) 1 (2)
I haven’t reacted to this food in the last year 72 (17) 41 (26) 22 (14) 1 (3) 3 (5)
Don't know 16 (4) 3 (2) 7 (4) 1 (3) 2 (3)
Total (N) 429 155 157 33 59

Table 64: Where children reported experiencing their most recent adverse reaction, by hypersensitivity

Where reaction occurred All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Home 237 (58) 76 (51) 117 (76) 16 (52) 15 (28)
School 63 (15) 33 (22) 10 (7) 7 (23) 9 (17)
Work 11 (3) 3 (2) 1 (1) 1 (3) 6 (11)
Family and friends house 52 (13) 16 (11) 12 (8) 4 (13) 17 (31)
Public transport 8 (2) 2 (1) 1 (1) 1 (3) 4 (7)
Eating out 24 (6) 12 (8) 10 (7) 1 (3) 1 (2)
Other 7 (2) 4 (3) - - 2 (4)
Can't remember 9 (2) 3 (2) 2 (1) 1 (3) -
Total (N) 411 149 153 31 54

Table 65: Who treated childrens' reactions across hypersensitivities

Who treated reaction All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
I treated the reaction myself 166 (36) 52 (31) 72 (44) 12 (30) 15 (22)
I had medical help for the reaction 115 (25) 51 (31) 18 (11) 11 (28) 32 (47)
Someone else helped me to treat the reaction 143 (31) 49 (29) 61 (38) 11 (28) 16 (24)
I have not reacted to this food before 14 (3) 4 (2) 3 (2) 3 (8) 4 (6)
Can’t remember 25 (5) 11 (7) 8 (5) 3 (8) 1 (1)
Total 463 167 162 40 68

Table 66: Experience of anaphylaxis, across all foods reported by children

Experience of anaphylaxis All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 145 (35) 62 (41) 22 (14) 9 (28) 45 (28)
No 234 (56) 72 (48) 120 (78) 21 (66) 6 (11)
Not sure 38 (9) 16 (11) 12 (8) 2 (6) 5 (9)
Total (N) 417 150 154 32 56

Table 67: Experience of anaphylaxis in the last 12 months, across all foods reported by children

Experience of anaphylaxis in the last 12 months All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 98 (24) 32 (22) 16 (11) 9 (29) 35 (64)
No 285 (71) 107 (74) 126 (85) 20 (65) 17 (31)
Not sure 19 (5) 5 (3) 6 (4) 2 (6) 3 (5)
Total (N) 402 144 148 31 55

Table 68: Frequency of emergency hospital admissions because of an adverse reaction, reported by children

Frequency of admission for those admitted to hospital All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Haven’t been admitted in the last 12 months 33 (23) 22 (37) 6 (22) 3 (30) 2 (5)
Once 44 (30) 18 (31) 7 (26) 3 (30) 12 (29)
Twice 32 (22) 10 (17) 7 (26) 2 (20) 11 (26)
Between 3 and 6 times 17 (12) 2 (3) 4 (15) 2 (20) 9 (21)
Between 7 and 10 times 9 (6) 1 (2) 1 (4) - 7 (17)
More than 10 times 5 (3) 3 (5) 1 (4) - 1 (2)
Don’t know 5 (3) 3 (5) 1 (4) - -
Total (N) 145 59 27 10 42

Table 69: Admission to hospital for a child's first time reaction to a food

Admission to hospital for first reaction to food All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple food hypersensitivities
N (%)
Yes 120 (86) 50 (86) 24 (92) 7 (70) 33 (85)
No 20 (14) 8 (14) 2 (8) 3 (30) 6 (15)
Total (N) 140 58 26 10 39

Table 70: Frequency of eating out or getting food to take away from a restaurant or other food outlet, by hypersensitivity

Frequency All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
At least once a day 10 (3) 4 (3) 2 (1) 1 (3) 3 (16)
5-6 times a week 15 (4) 5 (4) 3 (2) - 5 (26)
3-4 times a week 33 (10) 17 (13) 8 (6) 2 (7) 6 (32)
Once or twice a week 82 (24) 36 (26) 34 (25) 8 (28) -
Once a fortnight 51 (15) 16 (12) 21 (16) 8 (28) 4 (21)
Once a month 65 (19) 24(18) 35 (26) 3 (10) 1 (5)
Less than once a month 60 (18) 26 (19) 22 (16) 7 (24) -
Never 16 (5) 6 (4) 7 (5) - -
Don’t know 6 (2) 2 (1) 3 (2) - -
Total (N) 338 136 135 29 19

Table 71: How comfortable child respondents feel  asking a member of staff for information about the food they are selling when eating out, by food hypersensitivity 

Level of comfort asking for information All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Very or fairly comfortable 179 (56) 84 (65) 63 (50) 16 (57) 9 (50)
Not very or not at all comfortable 89 (28) 31 (24) 36 (29) 6 (21) 7 (39)
Varies from place to place 26 (8) 7 (5) 15 (12) 1 (4) 2 (11)
Don’t know 23 (7) 8 (6) 11 (9) 2 (7) -
Total (N) 317 130 125 28 28

Table 72: Confidence that written information provided when eating out allows identification of foods that cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction, by food hypersensitivity 

Level of confidence in information provided All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Very or fairly confident 198 (63) 85 (66) 77 (61) 17 (63) 8 (44)
Not very or not at all confident 75 (24) 29 (23) 29 (23) 7 (26) 8 (44)
Varies from place to place 19 (6) 6 (5) 10 (8) 2 (11)
Don’t know 24 (8) 9 (7) 10 (8) 3 (11) -
Total (N) 316 129 126 27 18

Table 73: Confidence that information provided verbally by staff when eating out allows identification of foods that cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction, by hypersensitivity

Level of confidence in information provided All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
 
Very or fairly confident 188 (59) 88 (67) 66 (52) 16 (57) 10 (56)
Not very or not at all confident 75 (24) 24 (19) 33 (26) 8 (29) 8 (45)
Varies from place to place 25 (8) 8 (6) 15 (12) 1 (4) -
Don’t know 30 (9) 11 (9) 13 (10 3 (11) -
Total (N) 318 129 127 28 18

Table 74: Frequency of children respondents being offered a food in the last 12 months, which may result in an adverse reaction, despite checking the available information

Frequency of being offered food All children
N (%)
Food allergy
N (%)
Food intolerance
N (%)
Coeliac disease
N (%)
Multiple hypersensitivities
N (%)
Once 65 (20) 24 (18) 24 (19) 10 (34) 5 (28)
Twice 46 (14) 20 (15) 13 (10) 3 (10) 8 (44)
Between 3- 6 times 28 (9) 8 (6) 12 (10) 4 (14) 2 (11)
Between 7 -10 times 8 (3) 2 (2) 1 (1) 3 (10) 2 (11)
More than 10 times 3 (1) 2 (2) - 1 (3) -
This hasn’t happened in the last 12 months 169 (53) 74 (57) 76 (60) 8 (28) 1 (6)
Total 319 130 126 29 18

Table 75: Summary of significant predictors of Quality of Life for each FH-specific group (only the models with significant predictors)

Predictor Adult with FA Adult with FI Adult with CD Parent-proxy for teen with FA Child with FA Teen with FA Child with FI
Long-term condition P P          
Physical and mental health condition P P          
Asthma P            
Eczema  P            
Greater number of foods sP, 2 P P, 2        
Greater severity P, 2 P, 2 P sP, 2 P sP, 2 P
Prescribed an AAI P     P      
Anaphylaxis P     P      
Hospital admission P            
Reaction to food in last 12 months   P          
Frequency of eating out P       P    
Frequency of checking information before choosing where to eat P,2 P,2 P,2 P   P sP, 2
Frequency of checking information before ordering P P, 2          
Frequency of asking staff for information  P, 2 sP, 2   P   P  
Being served a dish containing an allergen that participants may have a reaction to in the last 12 months P, 2 P P, 2        
Comfort in asking staff for information P P, 1 sP, 1       P
Confidence in written information P   P, 1        
Confidence in verbal information P P P   sP, 1    

•    P = predictor
•    sP = strongest predictor
•    1 = Better QoL
•    2 = Worse QoL