GPs need urgent support and training to care for people with food allergies, according to researchers who found that numbers have doubled since 2008.
An analysis published in The Lancet Public Health said the largest rise had been seen in young children but the reasons behind the trend were not clear.
In a study of data from GP practices covering 13 million patients, the team from Imperial College London found the prevalence of food allergy in the UK increased from 0.4% in 2008 to 1.1% in 2018.
The highest prevalence was seen in children under five years old with a rate of 4%, the researchers reported.
Overall, it suggests the estimated number of new cases of probable food allergy in the UK doubled over the decade looked at from 76 cases per 100,000 people to 160 cases per 100,000.
The analysis also showed that 97% of clinical visits for food allergy were to the GP rather than to hospital and around 90% of patients had only seen primary care about their allergy.
It also identified a need to ensure more robust prescribing of adrenaline autoinjectors in those with previous anaphylaxis.
The team estimated that only 64% for children and young people and 55% for adults who had a record of previous severe reaction from a food allergy had been prescribed an EpiPen.
Prescriptions were also less common for people living in more deprived areas of the country, the researchers reported.
Figures appear to show that newly diagnosed cases of food allergy may be levelling-off in some age groups, but it is not clear whether or not that is related to updated national advice on infant feeding which no longer advocates delaying certain food groups like peanuts, they concluded.
It follows a study published by the Food Standards Agency earlier this year which showed one in 20 adults has a clinically confirmed food allergy.
Study leader Professor Paul Turner, professor of paediatric allergy at the National Heart and Lung Institute said: ‘The good news is that while the prevalence of food allergy has increased, the numbers of new cases occurring each year look to have plateaued.
‘However, more than one-third of patients at risk of severe reactions do not carry potentially lifesaving rescue adrenaline autoinjectors, like EpiPens.
He added: ‘We urgently need to address this, and better support GPs and primary care staff who end up looking after the vast majority of food-allergic patients in the UK.’
In children at higher risk of food allergy earlier introduction of egg and peanut are now standard recommendations, the researchers noted.
Co-author, Professor Adnan Custovic also professor of paediatric allergy said: ‘One concerning finding from our study is the suggestion that patients in more deprived areas of the country may not be getting access to vital rescue medications they need and may be more likely to attend hospital emergency departments. This urgently requires further investigation.’
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