A joint project of two schools and two research centres has resulted in a
questionnaire based survey on food habits and food allergens. The idea for the
questionnaire was born in May 2005 during a workshop of the European project
ALLERGENTEST (EC project Nr. QLK1-CT-2001-01151).
The questionnaire-based survey aimed to gain a better insight in the
prevalence of food allergies in two distinct populations of families.
Information was also gathered on food habits and the families’ knowledge on
food allergies as well as the measures taken within families to prevent the
occurrence of food allergic reactions. The survey was carried out in the end
of 2005.
Participants
-
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Directorate-General
Joint Research Centre, European Commission
-
Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources
and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
-
Austrian secondary School - BG/BRG Tulln
-
European School in Mol (ES Mol)
In Austria at the Gymnasium in Tulln
In Austria, at the Gymnasium in Tulln, almost 900 questionnaires were handed
out, most of them at school but pupils also asked pedestrians at a market in
Tulln (Tullner Naschmarkt). About 520 questionnaires were collected. The
questionnaire was prepared by the pupils with help from the research
institutes. Information was collected on the family situation, food and
shopping habits, general knowledge about allergic reactions and families were
asked to report on family members that suffer from allergies. Data treatment
was performed by the pupils of the school. interpretation of the data will be
carried out by the two research centres, IFA-Tulln and IRMM.
In Belgium at the European School of Mol
A similar questionnaire was distributed to the pupils and their families at
the European School in Mol. It contained 23 questions inquiring about the
family situation, shopping habits, food labels and food allergies. In another
section of the questionnaire families were asked to report on family members
that suffer from allergies. All returned and completed questionnaires were
analysed by IRMM.
In parallel, the biology teachers addressed the subject of food allergy within
their teaching on the workings of the human immune system, which forms part of
the curriculum. Laboratory training in the use of test kits for the detection
of food allergen traces in food products was given in the laboratories of the
IRMM.
What next?
A detailed report is being prepared.
The study will be repeated either in the same area or extended e.g. to the
European schools in Italy and Brussels. Compiling more information may be
useful for risk assessors like the working group on allergens of the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the allergen research community.