A study published this week by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, based in Parkville Victoria, has found a potential link between sunlight exposure and allergies. Children in southern parts of Australia with less exposure to sunlight were found to be more likely to develop food allergies and eczema than those who lived in the sunnier north of Australia. The study, which has just been published by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in the February 2012 Journal issue of Allergy... ...Read more »

A new study utilising the Roy Morgan Health Care Monitor has identified that food allergies are more prevalent then previously thought. There are approximately 836,000 people in Australia who report suffering from food allergies, and women are more likely to be affected than men.In the 12 months to December 2009, 4.7% of Australians aged 14+ (approximately 836,000) reported suffering from food allergies in the previous 12 months. Women (6.5%), and younger people (6.6% of those under 25), report disproportionally... ...Read more »

Immunologists in the UK have reported fruit and vegetables are slowly replacing the peanut as the major cause of allergies in children, with doctors in Australia also noting a rise in reactions to some fresh produce. Despite the rise, allergies are more mild when it comes to fruit and veg and doctors stress that fresh produce remains a key to a healthy diet. George Du Toit, an allergist and immunologist in London, reports that fruit and vegetables allergies are around five times more common than... ...Read more »