Hidden Triggers: How Modern Food Production Fuels the Rise in Food Allergies and Inequities

By Alexander J. Adams

Food allergies have increased by 50% since the 1990s, affecting nearly 32 million Americans and imposing significant burdens on healthcare systems, families, and individuals [3]. While genetics play a role, environmental and lifestyle factors are now recognized as key drivers of this alarming trend, with industrialized nations experiencing the highest rates of food allergies [2]. At the heart of this issue is the modern food production system, which prioritizes efficiency and profit over health and sustainability. Characterized primarily by monoculture farming, heavy pesticide use, processed food consumption, and artificial additives, this system has fundamentally changed how we interact with food and our environment.