TABLE III.
Context of food allergen exposure among parent or guardian respondents
| Type of exposure | Overall (n = 188) | ≤5 y (n = 136) | 6-12 y (n = 44) | 13-17 y (n = 8) | 18-25 y (n = 0) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intentional | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI |
| Reason(s) for intentional exposure | ||||||||||
| Never had serious past reaction | 50.0 | (42.9-57.1) | 58.8 | (50.3-66.8) | 27.3 | (16.1-42.2) | 25.0 | (6.2-62.5) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unaware of risk | 23.9 | (18.3-30.6) | 25.7 | (19.1-33.8) | 18.2 | (9.3-32.5) | 25.0 | (6.2-62.5) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Decided to take risk anyway | 9.6 | (6.1-14.7) | 5.9 | (3.0-11.4) | 20.5 | (11.0-35.0) | 12.5 | (1.7-54.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Did not believe seriousness of food allergy | 3.7 | (1.8-7.6) | 2.2 | (0.7-6.7) | 9.1 | (3.4-22.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unaware that past reactions do not predict the severity of future reactions | 4.8 | (2.5-9.0) | 3.7 | (1.5-8.6) | 6.8 | (2.2-19.2) | 12.5 | (1.7-54.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Bullying | 1.1 | (0.3-4.2) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 4.5 | (1.1-16.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Other intentional reason(s) | ||||||||||
| Attempting to reintroduce food | 5.3 | (2.9-9.6) | 3.7 | (1.5-8.6) | 9.1 | (3.4-22.0) | 12.5 | (1.7-54.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unspecified/missing | 3.7 | (1.8-7.6) | 2.2 | (0.7-6.7) | 9.1 | (3.4-22.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Overall (n = 1463) |
≤5 y n=737 |
6-12 y (n = 545) |
13-17 y (n = 172) |
18-25 y (n = 9) |
||||||
| Unintentional | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI |
| Reason(s) for unintentional exposure | ||||||||||
| Cross-contamination | 24.1 | (21.9-26.3) | 18.0 | (15.4-21.0) | 29.2 | (25.5-33.1) | 32.0 | (25.4-39.3) | 55.6 | (25.1-82.3) |
| Food allergen hidden in food and not listed on food label | 8.6 | (7.3-10.2) | 6.0 | (4.5-7.9) | 10.3 | (8.0-13.1) | 14.0 | (9.5-20.0) | 22.2 | (5.6-57.9) |
| Informed restaurant staff but still had reaction | 12.0 | (10.5-13.8) | 6.9 | (5.3-9.0) | 16.3 | (13.5-19.7) | 20.3 | (15.0-27.0) | 11.1 | (1.5-50.0) |
| Food label/menu was not clear or unavailable | 9.1 | (7.7-10.7) | 6.1 | (4.6-8.1) | 11.6 | (9.1-14.5) | 14.0 | (9.5-20.0) | 11.1 | (1.5-50.0) |
| Had eaten this food previously without reaction (new allergen suspected) | 9.0 | (7.6-10.5) | 9.9 | (7.9-12.3) | 7.3 | (5.4-9.9) | 10.5 | (6.7-16.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Did not read food label or menu | 8.6 | (7.3-10.2) | 5.2 | (3.8-7.0) | 12.3 | (9.8-15.3) | 12.2 | (8.1-18.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Child/adult grabbed food unknowingly | 6.0 | (4.9-7.4) | 7.2 | (5.5-9.3) | 4.8 | (3.3-6.9) | 3.5 | (1.6-7.6) | 33.3 | (11.1-66.7) |
| Did not inform restaurant staff about food allergy | 1.0 | (0.6-1.7) | 0.8 | (0.4-1.8) | 0.9 | (0.4-2.2) | 1.2 | (0.3-4.5) | 22.2 | (5.6-57.9) |
| Other unintentional reason(s) | ||||||||||
| Air exposure | 1.2 | (0.8-1.9) | 1.1 | (0.5-2.2) | 1.3 | (0.6-2.7) | 1.7 | (0.6-5.3) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Caregiver/relative mistake | 3.4 | (2.6-4.5) | 4.1 | (2.9-5.8) | 3.1 | (1.9-5.0) | 1.7 | (0.6-5.3) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| First reaction/unknown allergy | 14.4 | (12.6-16.2) | 23.3 | (20.4-26.5) | 5.5 | (3.9-7.8) | 4.7 | (2.3-9.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Food service/preparation mistake | 1.6 | (1.0-2.4) | 0.8 | (0.4-1.8) | 2.2 | (1.3-3.8) | 2.9 | (1.2-6.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Forgot that food/medication contained allergen | 0.1 | (0.0-0.5) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.2 | (0.0-1.3) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Kissing | 0.6 | (0.3-1.2) | 1.1 | (0.5-2.2) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 11.1 | (1.5-50.0) |
| New ingredients in previously consumed food | 0.3 | (0.1-0.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.2 | (0.0-1.3) | 2.3 | (0.9-6.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unconfirmed diagnosis/unaware of food allergy | 5.0 | (4.0-6.2) | 7.2 | (5.5-9.3) | 3.1 | (1.9-5.0) | 1.7 | (0.6-5.3) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Reaction to medication/vaccination | 0.2 | (0.1-0.6) | 0.4 | (0.1-1.3) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Skin contact | 3.1 | (2.3-4.1) | 1.9 | (1.1-3.2) | 4.8 | (3.3-6.9) | 2.9 | (1.2-6.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unsure | 6.2 | (5.1-7.6) | 6.2 | (4.7-8.2) | 6.2 | (4.5-8.6) | 6.4 | (3.6-11.2) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
CI, Confidence interval.
Respondents were asked to include reasons for both intentional and unintentional food allergen exposure. Medical care-related exposures were excluded.