Other health professionals have reported similar increases in food allergies. Additional risks can come from allergens hidden in baked goods, desserts, and ethnic foods. Many students will have only mild allergic symptoms after eating the wrong food, but some will react immediately after ingesting even minute amounts. In rare cases, children may be so sensitive that even smelling a particular food creates mild allergic symptoms. Unfortunately, no one can predict how serious a reaction will be or when it will occur.
Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.
In each case, the victim unknowingly ate the food to which he or she was allergic. The study also showed that four of the six fatalities occurred in schools. After reviewing and discussing these four cases with families and school administrators, the authors concluded that a leading cause of these tragedies was a lack of understanding by school personnel of how to help allergic students. To protect their children, some parents will request that the school ban certain foods, such as peanuts. Unfortunately, such a ban often creates more problems than it solves.