Food Insecurity in the Food Allergic Population: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2022

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.10.058

Abstract

Food allergies affect 32 million Americans. Restricted diets due to food allergies can be difficult to maintain especially when the household is food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as the inability to acquire food for household members due to insufficient money or resources for food. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to face food insecurity for the first time with Latinx, Native American, and Black communities disproportionately affected. Because of the increase in food insecurity, this work group developed a survey regarding food insecurity screening. This survey was sent out to a random sample of American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology members to assess food insecurity knowledge and practices. The majority of survey participants did not routinely screen their patients for food insecurity. The biggest barrier identified to screening was lack of knowledge of how to perform a screen and resources available when a patient screened positive. This work group report provides guidance on how to implement and perform a food insecurity screen, including federal resources and assistance programs.

Journal Title

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract

Volume

10

Issue

1

First Page

81

Last Page

90

MeSH Keywords

COVID-19; Food Assistance; Food Insecurity; Food Supply; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; United States

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic; Food access; Food allergy; Food assistance programs; Food insecurity; Food security; Health disparities; Nutrition; Social determinants of health

Link to Full Text
Library Record

Share

COinS