Junk food may be causing rise in allergies

JUNK food could be behind the rise in food allergies, scientists believe, after finding that children who eat more takeaways are more likely to suffer from dangerous intolerances.

Researchers at the University of Naples in Italy studied 61 children aged between six and 12 and found those suffering food allergies also had a large build-up of sugary fatty substances under their skin which develop after eating processed and barbecued food.

It is thought these “advanced glycation end” products (AGES) may cause the gut to leak, triggering an overactive immune response that makes the body more sensitive to food consumed.

Two per cent of adults and seven per cent of children have food allergies, a five-fold rise since the Nineties. Although some experts blame “hygiene hypothesis” for failing to adequately prime the immune system, others say modern eating habits are responsible.

Dr Roberto Berni Canani, the principal investigator, said: “Existing hypotheses and models of food allergy do not adequately explain the dramatic increase, so dietary AGES may be the missing link. Our study certainly supports this.” If confirmed, he said, it could strengthen the case for governments to restrict the consumption of junk food in childhood.

Recent decades have seen dramatic increases in the West of highly processed foods. Amena Warner, of Allergy UK, said: “Any steps that can be taken to prevent the development of food allergy are steps in the right direction”.

The research was presented at the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.