New safefood funded research that looked at the cost of living with a food allergy or coeliac disease in Ireland has estimated that the average cost burden for a child with a food allergy is €1,439 every year, rising to €1,602 for an adult.
The research looks for the first time at the cost of living with a food hypersensitivity (food allergy, food intolerance, and coeliac disease ) on the island of Ireland.
These were primarily medical costs, costs associated with food, and the cost of missed days from work, school, or college. The research, led by the Technological University Dublin and Queens University Belfast, also found that 71 per cent of the adult costs (€1,141 ) were borne by the individuals themselves with the remaining 29 per cent being shared with the health services (€461 ). The opposite applied to parents of food allergic children, where 35 per cent (€499 ) of the costs were out-of-pocket costs and 65 per cent (€940 ) were shared with the health service.
For those with coeliac disease, the associated extra costs were €438 a year for an adult and more than double that (€1,033 ) for a child. These costs were primarily due to medical expenses but also health insurance and missed days from work, school, or college. Approximately 37 per cent (adult ) and 25 per cent (child ) of these costs were related to food. For adults, 66 per cent of the costs (€290 ) were incurred by the individual, with 34 per cent (€148 ) shared with the health service. For parents of coeliac children, 59 per cent (€607 ) were out-of-pocket costs with 41 per cent (€426 ) shared with the health service.
"This research highlights for the first time both the financial and social costs of living with a food hypersensitivity today," said Dr James McIntosh of safefood. "Healthcare-related expenses were found to be the main driver of costs, although total food costs and the loss of time/days were also found to be significant for many of the groups we examined.
"As well as raising awareness about the issue, the benefit of the research is that it can help inform decisions when developing future supports and help. We aim to share the research with policy makers and the relevant support organisations who assist those living with a food allergy, food intolerance or coeliac disease."
Lead researcher Dr Ciara Walsh, of the School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Technological University Dublin, added: “The research also looked at the non-monetary or intangible costs involved to determine how quality of life can be affected by a food hypersensitivity. The people we surveyed reported a lower health status or quality of life. They had significantly higher levels of pain and discomfort, while anxiety and depression were common among adults and adolescents.
“Understandably, the food environment in general continues to present challenges for those with food hypersensitivity and their families, and those with food allergy and coeliac disease highlighted the importance of increasing public and industry awareness of food hypersensitivity."
