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Organics blamed for rise in allergies 
Doctors says nearly half of population now prone to reactions

Parental trust in organic food could be a reason more children are suffering from allergies, an academic has suggested.

Jonathan O'B Hourihane, a professor of paediatrics, told peers yesterday that nearly half the population is now prone to allergies. But while many follow the accepted advice to eat a varied and fresh diet, it is the sheer variety of fresh foods now available that may be to blame for the prevalence of allergies.

"The impression that organic or exotic fresh food is better for children may by linked to the appearance of allergies to foods that would have appeared bizarre to previous generations," Prof O'B Hourihane said.

The professor, from University College Cork was addressing the Lords committee on science and technology. He stressed that allergic reactions can kill.

Around 20 million people in the Britain suffer from some form of food intolerance, according to a survey by the medical charity Allergy UK in January. Nearly half - 45 per cent of the population - have an adverse reaction to everyday foods such as milk and wheat.

Milk, eggs, peanuts, nuts, fish, shellfish, soya and wheat are to blame for 90 per cent of allergic reactions. But the diet of Britons has changed dramatically since the 1970s when foods such as kiwi fruits and avocados were viewed as treats.

And allergy is far from a simple disease and academics are still struggling to understand it.

They always have to blame something on health problems. As they said they "are still struggling to understand it". It wasn't too very many years ago that organic foods were the norm. I was raised on organic gardening and so was many of my generation. Allergies were not at all common either.