The survey, commissioned by the Food and Drink Innovation Network, prior to its FreeFrom Summit last month, showed that 22% of the population believed they suffered from a food allergy or intolerance.
Dairy- and glutencontaining foods were the main cause of allergies for adults, according to the survey. Peanuts and dairy were claimed to be the main cause for children, it added.
Women most likely to suffer
Women were most likely to suffer from a food allergy, according to the research.
Meanwhile, consumers who lived in the south of England were most likely to suffer with an allergy, compared to those in other regions of the UK.