TABLE IV.
Context of food allergen exposure among self-respondents
| Type of exposure |
Overall (n = 113) |
≤5 y (n = 7) |
6-12 y (n = 0) |
13-17 y (n = 4) |
18-25 y (n = 19) |
26-65 y (n = 80) |
≥65 y (n = 3) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intentional | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI |
| Reason(s) for intentional exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Never had serious past reaction | 26.5 | (19.2-35.5) | 28.6 | (7.1-67.7) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 50.0 | (12.1-87.9) | 26.3 | (11.3-50.1) | 25.0 | (16.7-35.7) | 33.3 | (4.2-85.0) |
| Unaware of risk | 14.2 | (8.8-22.0) | 14.3 | (1.9-58.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 50.0 | (12.1-87.9) | 5.3 | (0.7-29.8) | 15.0 | (8.7-24.7) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Decided to take risk anyway | 47.8 | (38.7-57.1) | 28.6 | (7.1-67.7) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 25.0 | (3.3-76.7) | 52.6 | (30.9-73.4) | 48.8 | (37.9-59.7) | 66.7 | (15.0-95.8) |
| Did not believe seriousness of food allergy | 19.5 | (13.1-27.9) | 28.6 | (7.1-67.7) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 25.0 | (3.3-76.7) | 31.6 | (14.8-55.1) | 16.3 | (9.6-26.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unaware that past reactions do not predict the severity of future reactions | 6.2 | (3.0-12.5) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 5.3 | (0.7-29.8) | 7.5 | (3.4-15.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Bullying | 1.8 | (0.4-6.9) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 2.5 | (0.6-9.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Other intentional reason(s) | ||||||||||||||
| Attempting to reintroduce food | 5.3 | (2.4-11.4) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 7.5 | (3.4-15.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unspecified/missing | 0.9 | (0.1-6.1) | 14.3 | (1.9-58.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Overall (n = 1044) | ≤5 y (n = 55) | 6-12 y (n = 27) | 13-17 y (n = 48) | 18-25 y (n = 219) | 26-65 y (n = 651) | ≥65 y (n = 44) | ||||||||
| Unintentional | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI | % | 95% CI |
| Reason(s) for unintentional exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Cross-contamination | 32.2 | (29.4-35.1) | 30.9 | (20.2-44.2) | 40.7 | (24.2-59.7) | 39.6 | (26.9-53.9) | 38.8 | (32.6-45.4) | 29.2 | (25.8-32.8) | 31.8 | (19.8-46.8) |
| Food allergen hidden in food and not listed on food label | 21.5 | (19.1-24.1) | 14.5 | (7.4-26.5) | 11.1 | (3.6-29.4) | 22.9 | (13.2-36.8) | 23.7 | (18.6-29.8) | 22.3 | (19.2-25.6) | 11.4 | (4.8-24.6) |
| Informed restaurant staff but still had reaction | 16.6 | (14.4-19.0) | 16.4 | (8.7-28.6) | 18.5 | (7.9-37.5) | 16.7 | (8.6-30.0) | 20.5 | (15.7-26.4) | 14.4 | (11.9-17.4) | 27.3 | (16.2-42.2) |
| Food label/menu was not clear or unavailable | 18.6 | (16.3-21.1) | 18.2 | (10.1-30.6) | 18.5 | (7.9-37.5) | 27.1 | (16.4-41.3) | 20.5 | (15.7-26.4) | 17.4 | (14.6-20.5) | 18.2 | (9.4-32.4) |
| Had eaten this food previously without reaction (new allergen suspected) | 10.3 | (8.6-12.3) | 14.5 | (7.4-26.5) | 11.1 | (3.6-29.4) | 16.7 | (8.6-30.0) | 11.9 | (8.2-16.9) | 9.2 | (7.2-11.7) | 6.8 | (2.2-19.1) |
| Did not read food label or menu | 9.1 | (7.5-11.0) | 9.1 | (3.8-20.1) | 3.7 | (0.5-22.1) | 10.4 | (4.4-22.7) | 9.6 | (6.3-14.3) | 9.2 | (7.2-11.7) | 6.8 | (2.2-19.1) |
| Child/adult grabbed food unknowingly | 4.1 | (3.1-5.5) | 3.6 | (0.9-13.4) | 11.1 | (3.6-29.4) | 4.2 | (1.0-15.2) | 3.7 | (1.8-7.1) | 3.8 | (2.6-5.6) | 6.8 | (2.2-19.1) |
| Did not inform restaurant staff about food allergy | 6.2 | (4.9-7.9) | 1.8 | (0.3-11.8) | 3.7 | (0.5-22.1) | 10.4 | (4.4-22.7) | 6.8 | (4.2-11.1) | 6.6 | (4.9-8.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Other unintentional reason(s) | ||||||||||||||
| Air exposure | 3.4 | (2.5-4.7) | 1.8 | (0.3-11.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 2.3 | (1.0-5.4) | 4.1 | (2.9-6.0) | 6.8 | (2.2-19.1) |
| Caregiver/relative mistake | 1.1 | (0.7-2.0) | 5.5 | (1.8-15.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 2.3 | (1.0-5.4) | 0.6 | (0.2-1.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| First reaction/unknown allergy | 3.5 | (2.6-4.9) | 7.3 | (2.8-17.8) | 11.1 | (3.6-29.4) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 2.3 | (1.0-5.4) | 3.7 | (2.5-5.4) | 2.3 | (0.3-14.5) |
| Food service/preparation mistake | 2.1 | (1.4-3.2) | 3.6 | (0.9-13.4) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 3.7 | (1.8-7.1) | 1.8 | (1.0-3.2) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Forgot that food/medication contained allergen | 0.2 | (0.0-0.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.5 | (0.1-3.2) | 0.2 | (0.0-1.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Kissing | 0.6 | (0.3-1.3) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 2.1 | (0.3-13.4) | 1.4 | (0.4-4.2) | 0.3 | (0.1-1.2) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| New ingredients in previously consumed food | 0.3 | (0.1-0.9) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.5 | (0.1-3.2) | 0.2 | (0.0-1.1) | 2.3 | (0.3-14.5) |
| Unconfirmed diagnosis/unaware of food allergy | 1.1 | (0.6-1.9) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 3.7 | (0.5-22.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.9 | (0.2-3.6) | 1.1 | (0.5-2.2) | 2.3 | (0.3-14.5) |
| Reaction to medication/vaccination | 0.1 | (0.0-0.7) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 0.2 | (0.0-1.1) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Skin contact | 1.7 | (1.1-2.7) | 3.6 | (0.9-13.4) | 7.4 | (1.9-25.3) | 2.1 | (0.3-13.4) | 1.8 | (0.7-4.8) | 1.4 | (0.7-2.6) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) |
| Unsure | 5.7 | (4.5-7.3) | 7.3 | (2.8-17.8) | 0.0 | (0.0-0.0) | 2.1 | (0.3-13.4) | 4.1 | (2.2-7.7) | 6.5 | (4.8-8.6) | 9.1 | (3.5-21.9) |
CI, Confidence interval.
Respondents were asked to include reasons for both intentional and unintentional food allergen exposure. Medical care-related exposures were excluded.