General Medical

Did you know that nine common foods are responsible for over 90% of allergic reactions? According to our resident GP Dr. Sam, "Cow's milk, egg, peanut, sesame, soy, tree nuts, wheat and shellfish are the main culprits”. But what exactly causes a food allergy and more importantly why are they becoming increasingly more common in Australian kids? Well, current research indicates that a fear of allergies to foods such as peanuts has led many parents to delay when they introduce these types of foods to their babies. Despite their best intentions though, Dr Sam says that this has in fact compounded the issue – “as ALL foods must be introduced early in a baby’s diet.” In this latest article for HIF, Dr. Sam sifts through the facts to discuss what all parents really need to know about food allergies.