Intro The peanut is a popular food item in America and has become an integral part of American culture itself. The all-American song, Take me Out to the Ball Game, even features the famed food item in it’s lyrics. In the past, the peanut was a beloved American snack. However, the peanut has quickly become a food that induces fear and anxiety among Americans today because of the increased prevalence of peanut allergies. The rate of peanut allergies has tripled over the past two decades, and an estimated three million Americans suffer from the potentially life threatening condition (Sicherer). The peanut is the top food allergen in America (FARE) and the allergy has recently been deemed an epidemic. While scientists have not been able to pinpoint
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The peanut allergy in American children increased from 0.4% in 1997 to 1.4% in 2008 (Schemer 11yr). The rapid increase of peanut allergy cases have scientists speculating that perhaps our modern world is contributing to the rise of peanut allergy cases. One such hypothesis is the hygiene hypothesis. The hygiene hypothesis was introduced by Dr. Strachan in the 1980’s. Dr. Strachan examined and concluded “infections and unhygienic contact might confer protection against the development of allergic illnesses.” (Bianca Schaub) Essentially, Dr. Strachan found children with more siblings seemed to suffer less frequently from allergies. Ten years after Dr. Strachan’s discovery of the hygienic hypothesis he: “postulates that infection protects against atopy, is considered immunologically plausible and is consistent with the epidemiological features of atopy ( Schaub). In translation, he is saying infection activates the immune system which in turn makes a person less susceptible to being hyper allergic to foods like a peanut. His hypothesis was further built upon in the 1990’s by a German doctor named Erika Von Mutius. Dr. Mutius examined both East and West German children for allergies. She predicted that the children who lived in the more polluted East Germany would suffer more from allergies (E). Contrary …show more content…
GMO’s are a recent human advancement, as they were commercially introduced in 1996. (ers.usda) Humans have engineered plants resistant to harmful elements, which has revolutionized how we grow our food. Within the last couple of decades, the use of GMO foods have taken off as American farmers have almost completely shifted crops to the GMO variety. The USDA website states herbicide resistant (HT) “soybeans went from 17 percent of U.S. soybean acreage in 1997 to 68 percent in 2001 and 94 percent in 2014 and in 2015” (ers). The rise of GMO soy occurred during the same time period in which peanut allergies began to significantly increase, leading scientists to hypothesize a correlation between the rise of GMO soy and the rise of the peanut allergy. Peanuts and soybeans naturally have similar protein makeups as both are legumes and both naturally could cause cross-reactivity (kids with food). While the actual peanut has not been genetically modified, soybeans have been altered and the reconfiguring of the protein could possibly lead to cross-reactivity increasing (Smith). A study completed by Lack examines children with eczema and illustrates the possible link between GMO soy and a peanut allergy. Lack found that the “common use of prescribed and over-the-counter preparations containing peanut oil, nut oils and proteins, and soy oil potentially
The peanut allergy in American children increased from 0.4% in 1997 to 1.4% in 2008 (Schemer 11yr). The rapid increase of peanut allergy cases have scientists speculating that perhaps our modern world is contributing to the rise of peanut allergy cases. One such hypothesis is the hygiene hypothesis. The hygiene hypothesis was introduced by Dr. Strachan in the 1980’s. Dr. Strachan examined and concluded “infections and unhygienic contact might confer protection against the development of allergic illnesses.” (Bianca Schaub) Essentially, Dr. Strachan found children with more siblings seemed to suffer less frequently from allergies. Ten years after Dr. Strachan’s discovery of the hygienic hypothesis he: “postulates that infection protects against atopy, is considered immunologically plausible and is consistent with the epidemiological features of atopy ( Schaub). In translation, he is saying infection activates the immune system which in turn makes a person less susceptible to being hyper allergic to foods like a peanut. His hypothesis was further built upon in the 1990’s by a German doctor named Erika Von Mutius. Dr. Mutius examined both East and West German children for allergies. She predicted that the children who lived in the more polluted East Germany would suffer more from allergies (E). Contrary …show more content…
GMO’s are a recent human advancement, as they were commercially introduced in 1996. (ers.usda) Humans have engineered plants resistant to harmful elements, which has revolutionized how we grow our food. Within the last couple of decades, the use of GMO foods have taken off as American farmers have almost completely shifted crops to the GMO variety. The USDA website states herbicide resistant (HT) “soybeans went from 17 percent of U.S. soybean acreage in 1997 to 68 percent in 2001 and 94 percent in 2014 and in 2015” (ers). The rise of GMO soy occurred during the same time period in which peanut allergies began to significantly increase, leading scientists to hypothesize a correlation between the rise of GMO soy and the rise of the peanut allergy. Peanuts and soybeans naturally have similar protein makeups as both are legumes and both naturally could cause cross-reactivity (kids with food). While the actual peanut has not been genetically modified, soybeans have been altered and the reconfiguring of the protein could possibly lead to cross-reactivity increasing (Smith). A study completed by Lack examines children with eczema and illustrates the possible link between GMO soy and a peanut allergy. Lack found that the “common use of prescribed and over-the-counter preparations containing peanut oil, nut oils and proteins, and soy oil potentially