As we mark both Mental Health Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Month this May, it’s time to spotlight a powerful yet often overlooked intersection: the impact of food allergies on mental well-being. For millions of people worldwide, food allergies are more than just a disease with physical challenges—they are a constant source of anxiety, stress, financial, and emotional strain. Food allergies are a growing public health crisis, affecting approximately 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children, or about two children in every classroom.
People with food allergies carry the invisible weight of daily worry. Meticulously checking food labels, asking questions at restaurants or parties, and carrying epinephrine at all times is mentally and emotionally draining. But beyond the logistics lies something even more difficult: the constant worry that a simple bite of the wrong food could trigger a life-threatening reaction.
This constant vigilance can take a toll on mental health, contributing to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. In a 2024 study, Dr. Linda Herbert found that 66% of adults, 75% of caregivers, and 50% of children experienced anxiety, particularly about allergic reactions, across over 20 countries.
For children those feelings are often compounded by an alarming trend towards bullying in the context of food allergies. A recent study published in Children (2024) reveals that kids with food allergies frequently face teasing, exclusion, and even threats involving allergens. Sadly, parents may not be aware of this challenge and there is a need for greater awareness and stronger interventions in schools to keep these children safe and supported.
There is still no cure for food allergies, a fact which adds weight and a sense of hopelessness to patients of all ages. Treatment options like oral immunotherapy or injectable medications such as omalizumab can help, but they come with risks, costs, and side effects. These approaches aren’t one-size-fits-all, and they’re not a permanent solution. However, promising scientific research into the root causes of food allergies will bring us closer to improved treatments and, one day, a cure. Now is the time to bridge the funding gap for new research and collaboration across disciplines and fields to identify solutions for allergic disease and related health conditions.
While we advocate for increased research and funding, we all have a role to play in improving the lives of those with food allergies—starting now. Acknowledging food allergies as a serious, chronic disease and being more mindful in our actions can create a more inclusive and compassionate culture. It doesn’t require grand gestures. Small actions—like choosing allergy-friendly restaurants, planning non-food-related gatherings, or simply washing hands after eating—can go a long way toward reducing the daily burden those with food allergies carry. These choices may seem small, but to someone living with food allergies, they alleviate the burden of keeping safe.
Mentally thriving even with food allergies should be our path to scientific solutions. Let’s move beyond awareness to empathy, and from empathy to action. By fostering inclusion, supporting mental health, and funding breakthrough science, we can build a world where those with food allergies can live without the burden of life-threatening reactions.