The UK’s most common allergy revealed – and it’s not nuts, shellfish or dairy
EGG white is the UK’s most common allergy, experts say.
It forces many of us to think twice before scoffing our favourite cakes.
Testing shows the baker’s staple tops nuts and hay fever as the most likely to trigger reactions.
Cris West, from testing company Test Your Intolerance, said: “This might be a surprise to some people.
“We might have expected cow’s milk, shellfish or nuts to be among the highest allergens, but they didn’t appear in the top three.”
Britain’s second biggest allergen was wheat, and green beans ranked third.
The Midlands-based firm sells screening tests around the world and found Americans are also most likely to have an egg allergy but Aussies are most sensitive to green beans.
The findings came from a database of a million customers who bought kits online and sent fingerprick blood samples off for testing.
Two thirds of people in the UK – 41million – suffer some form of allergy, according to Allergy UK.
Reactions can range from just a sniffle or itch to a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, which blocks the airways.
Mr West added: “Our state-of-the-art laboratories provide the most accurate information available, so we can be confident in our results.”
UK’s Top 10 allergies
- Egg white
- Wheat
- Green beans
- Rye
- Almond
- Egg yolk
- Spelt
- Peanut
- Soy
- Cow’s milk