Twenty per cent of Australian households believe they have a member that has a food allergy according to the March 2009 Sensis Consumer Report.

The March 2009 Sensis Consumer Report comprises the results of a survey of 1,500 Australians from metropolitan and regional areas of Australia, including people from all states and territories, starting from 14 years of age. It is designed to measure confidence and expectations for the next 12 months within Australia’s population, and to provide an objective assessment of consumers’ attitudes on key issues. Among the issues surveyed in 2009 were the population’s attitudes and experiences towards food allergies.

Based on the respondents’ beliefs, twenty per cent of Australian households contain a member that has a food allergy, with the report stating females are more likely than males to suffer. Households in the Northern Territory and Tasmania are reported to be more predisposed to food allergy (29 per cent), followed by households in the ACT (25 per cent).

Milk and dairy, seafood and nuts were reported to be the most frequently occurring allergies. Fourteen per cent of households with children reported a child with an allergy. Of these, 25 per cent were said to have a nut allergy, 14 per cent a milk allergy, while eggs accounted for 12 per cent of the children’s allergies reported.

The full report can be accessed at: www.about.sensis.com.au