Food Allergy in Africa: Myth or Reality?

Kung, Szu Hao; Steenhoff, Andrew P.; Gray, Claudia L.

doi:10.1007/s12016-012-8341-z

Cited by 43 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Kumar et al (2011) demonstrated that red beans showed cross reactivity with other legumes such as peanuts, soybean and chickpea and may induce allergic reactions in humans. Novel food allergens reported elsewhere in Africa include pineapple in Ghana, okra in Nigeria and mopane worm in Botswana (Kung et al, 2014). Similarly, chocolate can trigger headache and migraine due to consumption of increased level of tyramine, which is naturally present in cocoa products (Finocchi, & Sivori, 2012).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study is also of value to the food industry and healthcare practitioners as the findings 9 represent a snapshot of the food allergy status in Mauritius. Limited countries in Africa had carried out research in this area (Basra et al, 2015;Gray et al, 2014;Kung et al, 2014) and there remains numerous research and development opportunities for Mauritius and other African countries.…”

Section: Insert Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Africa is also burdened by infectious and non-communicable diseases and lack of recognition of allergy as a clinical specialty due to limited health care infrastructure (El-Gamal, Hossny, El-Sayed, & Reda, 2017;Potter et al, 2010). To date there are some reports of surrogate measures of food allergy such as self-reported reactions or sensitisation to food (Kung, Steenhoff, & Gray, 2014) such as those reported in Mozambique (Lunet, Falcao, Sousa, Bay, & Barros, 2005) and…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Food allergies and perceptions towards food allergen labelling in Mauritius

Soogali

Soon

2018

Food Control

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There remains a paucity of research in food allergies in Sub-saharan Africa. It is the aim of this study to determine the self-reported prevalence of food allergies and consumers' perceptions towards food allergen labelling in Mauritius. A survey was conducted in four supermarkets in the Municipalities of Vacoas-Phoenix, Quatre-Bornes and Moka during the period of September to November 2017. The questionnaire was designed based on previous studies and administered using a face-to-face interview approach to increase completion rate. Descriptive analysis and one-way ANOVA between subjects design were conducted. Shellfish was reported as the most common causative agent followed by fish, egg and peanut. Respondents were satisfied with the current font size and general information provided in food labels. Respondents agreed that it could be problematic to identify suitable foods for individuals suffering from food allergies or intolerances. Variations of PAL statements and generic terms provided in food labels, and location of allergy warnings were cause for concern. More than 80% of the respondents felt that allergens in ingredient list should be emphasised (e.g. bold font) and plain English or French language should be used to describe allergenic ingredients. The findings in this study provide practical insights on food allergen labelling issues for policy makers and stakeholders in the food supply chain. Determining the prevalence of food allergies in the country will inform policy makers to consider adding shellfish and other major allergenic ingredients to the list of ingredients requiring mandatory allergen warning label in Mauritius.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Insert Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Food allergies and perceptions towards food allergen labelling in Mauritius

Soogali

Soon

2018

Food Control

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“…The origin of sensitization to LTPs in areas of the tropics such as Ghana and the role of helminths remain unknown but provide future directions for further research. Aside from the case of Ara h 9, other novel allergens found in the tropics exist that require better characterization .…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasitic worms and allergies in childhood: Insights from population studies 2008–2013

Amoah

Boakye

Ree

et al. 2013

Pediatric Allergy Immunology

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The last few decades have seen a marked increase in the global prevalence of allergic diseases particularly among children. Among the factors attributed to this rise has been reduced exposure to pathogens during childhood leading to insufficient maturation of the regulatory arm of developing immune systems. Over the years, a number of epidemiological studies have observed an inverse relationship between parasitic worm (helminth) infections and allergies. The purpose of this review is to highlight insights from population studies conducted among children published between 2008 and 2013 that explore the complex dynamics between helminth infections and allergies. These insights include the effect of anthelmintic treatment on allergic responses, an elucidation of immune mechanisms and an examination of helminth-induced immunoglobulin E cross-reactivity. A better understanding of the relationship between helminths and allergies is imperative as research directions move toward harnessing the therapeutic potential of helminths and their products in the treatment of allergic disorders.

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“…16 Other regionally significant food allergens can include pineapple (Ghana), okra (Nigeria), and mopane worm (Botswana). 27 Peanuts are frequently consumed in Africa, but severe allergic reactions are rare. It was assumed that there is natural clinical tolerance to peanut in African patients.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Allergy and immunology in Africa: Challenges and unmet needs

El-Gamal

Hossny

El-Sayed

et al. 2017

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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The tremendous increase in allergy in the African continent cannot simply be explained by the change in public hygiene. There are many "prehygiene" communities with sewage-contaminated water supplies, helminth infestations, bare footedness, and poor housing, and still there is a high prevalence of allergic disease. Africans can be exposed to many risk factors facilitating severe asthma and wheezing, including airborne viruses, smoke, indoor dampness, cockroaches, and poor access to health care. Although the reporting on food allergy is inadequate to perform systematic reviews or meta-analyses, the available data suggest that food allergy is underdiagnosed. The rate of new HIV infections in high-prevalence settings in Africa remains unacceptably high. Although the annual number of new HIV infections in Sub-Saharan Africa has decreased lately, new HIV infections in the Middle East and North Africa region have increased; however, the current prevalence of 0.1% is still among the lowest globally. Africa is densely populated, and consanguineous mating is high in some areas of North and Sub-Saharan Africa. This allows for emergence of many autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency diseases. There is urgent need for the establishment of primary immunodeficiency disease registries, stem cell transplantation facilities, and neonatal screening programs. To address these expanding problems and perform local cutting-edge research, Africans need to be empowered by motivated governments, dedicated funds, and compassionate scientific partnership.

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Food Allergy in Africa: Myth or Reality?

Cited by 43 publications

References 37 publications

Food allergies and perceptions towards food allergen labelling in Mauritius

Food allergies and perceptions towards food allergen labelling in Mauritius

Parasitic worms and allergies in childhood: Insights from population studies 2008–2013

Allergy and immunology in Africa: Challenges and unmet needs

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