Citation
(2008), "Food fads news copy", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738bab.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Food fads news copy
Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition
Three million Brits are suffering from "imaginary" food intolerances, it has been revealed. A study by a food diagnostic company discovered that many hypochondriacs have changed their diet after carrying out self diagnosis on the internet. And incredibly one in 50 reckon they only noticed the condition when a friend had similar symptoms.
The research, which was carried out by www.yorktest.com to mark food tolerance week, also revealed 39 per cent of people think it is trendy to declare themselves food intolerant. Almost 12 million claim to be food intolerant but less than a quarter of those have had it medically diagnosed. A spokesman for www.yorktest.com said: "Food intolerances are on the increase but it's worrying to think that many sufferers have never actually been tested or diagnosed". "There is a surprisingly diverse range of foods which people are now intolerant to".
Nutrition expert Patrick Holford says that people spend decades suffering unnecessarily from hidden food intolerances because most doctors are not aware of the symptoms than can be caused, and cured, by avoiding unidentified food intolerances. "Food intolerance symptoms aren't as severe as food allergies; so many people might not want to worry their doctor about them and will just blame it on the busy, hectic lifestyles we lead".