Key Facts
- Food allergy is a growing public health issue in Canada.
- There is no cure; avoidance of an allergenic food is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.
- About 1.3 million Canadians (4%) have food allergy according to Health Canada.
- One in two Canadians know someone with a serious food allergy.
- The incidence is highest amongst young children (under 3) with close to 6% affected by food allergy.
- About 300,000 Canadian children under 18 years have food allergies.
- Peanut allergy in Canada affects about 2 in 100 children.
- More than 40% of Canadians read food labels looking for allergen information.
- The Ontario government passed Sabrina's Law in 2005, requiring all publicly funded schools in the province to have an anaphylaxis action plan.
