The Problem
The problem that I am going to look at for my major study project has come from a personal experience and something that effects my family and I as well as many others on a daily basis – food allergies’.
Reports published in 2010 by Mintel show that an estimate 21 million people in the UK alone suffer from at least one allergy. Allergy UK states that each year the number of allergy suffers increases by 5%, half of which are children. These figures show that the number of allergies is increasing through generations – allergies are becoming a consideration of daily life for many. It is now predicted that by 2015 50% of Europeans will suffer from an allergy (EFA, 2011).
Going further into detail and looking at figures that specifically look at food allergies it has been recorded that UK hospital admissions have increased by 500% since 1990. (Gupta, 2007). Understanding what causes these allergies and how they can be prevented was the first stage of the research process. This began by looking at food allergies in general and then going further into detail and looking at common food allergies in more depth.
Allergies include allergies to wheat, gluten and other grains (coeliac disease), sesame and other seeds, fish and seafood, milk (diary) allergy, Soya allergy, nut allergy, egg allergy, alcohol allergy and fruit and vegetable allergies.
There are many different food allergies that are known to effect people. Using the Allergy UK website for research – the UK’s leading allergy charity (www.allerguk.org) it allowed for research to be collected about the most common allergies. It was felt that by fully understanding the allergies, what causes them and the effects.
Identifying a problem allowed for research to be initially targeted and allowed for all areas to be looked at and for feedback on the initial identification of a project concept to be gained.
Reports published in 2010 by Mintel show that an estimate 21 million people in the UK alone suffer from at least one allergy. Allergy UK states that each year the number of allergy suffers increases by 5%, half of which are children. These figures show that the number of allergies is increasing through generations – allergies are becoming a consideration of daily life for many. It is now predicted that by 2015 50% of Europeans will suffer from an allergy (EFA, 2011).
Going further into detail and looking at figures that specifically look at food allergies it has been recorded that UK hospital admissions have increased by 500% since 1990. (Gupta, 2007). Understanding what causes these allergies and how they can be prevented was the first stage of the research process. This began by looking at food allergies in general and then going further into detail and looking at common food allergies in more depth.
Allergies include allergies to wheat, gluten and other grains (coeliac disease), sesame and other seeds, fish and seafood, milk (diary) allergy, Soya allergy, nut allergy, egg allergy, alcohol allergy and fruit and vegetable allergies.
There are many different food allergies that are known to effect people. Using the Allergy UK website for research – the UK’s leading allergy charity (www.allerguk.org) it allowed for research to be collected about the most common allergies. It was felt that by fully understanding the allergies, what causes them and the effects.
Identifying a problem allowed for research to be initially targeted and allowed for all areas to be looked at and for feedback on the initial identification of a project concept to be gained.