What is the confirmed rate of food allergy in children younger than six years?

Food allergy is a common concern for parents of young children. The confirmed rate of food allergy in children under six years is best estimated by studies that use the gold standard diagnostic test: an oral food challenge. A large 2025 meta-analysis of 190 studies found that, when food challenge confirmation was used, the overall incidence of food allergy in children up to age 6 was about 4.7% ¹. This is a moderate-certainty estimate, meaning it is a reliable figure for the general population. Other studies using parent reports or physician diagnoses report higher rates, ranging from 4.0% to 7.7%, but these may overestimate true allergy because they include conditions that are not confirmed by food challenge ⁴⁵⁸.

What the research says

A comprehensive 2025 meta-analysis analyzed 190 studies involving 2.8 million children across 40 countries. Among studies that confirmed food allergy with an oral food challenge, the incidence of food allergy in children younger than 6 years was 4.7% ¹. This is considered a moderate-certainty estimate, meaning the true rate is likely close to this figure. The same analysis identified strong risk factors for developing food allergy, including having atopic dermatitis (eczema) in the first year of life, which increased the odds by nearly four times ¹. Other studies that rely on parent-reported or physician-diagnosed food allergy have found higher rates. For example, a U.S. survey showed that the prevalence of reported food or digestive allergies in children aged 0-17 years increased from 4.0% in 2007 to 6.5% in 2018 ⁴⁵. A birth cohort study in Iran found a cumulative incidence of 7.7% for physician-diagnosed food allergy in children under 2 years ⁸. However, these estimates may be higher because they do not require confirmation by food challenge, which can rule out false positives. The rate of confirmed food allergy can also vary by population. For instance, among children with atopic dermatitis, food allergy is more common: one study found that 41.7% of infants with eczema had a confirmed food allergy ⁷. In a specific group of children who had liver transplants, the rate was about 15% ⁶. These higher rates reflect the fact that certain medical conditions increase the risk of food allergy. Overall, the best estimate for the general population of healthy children under six is around 4.7% when using strict diagnostic criteria ¹.

What to ask your doctor

• What is the best way to confirm whether my child has a food allergy? Should we consider an oral food challenge?
• My child has eczema. Does that increase their risk of food allergy, and should we take any preventive steps?
• Are there any signs or symptoms I should watch for that might suggest a food allergy?
• If my child has a suspected food allergy, what are the next steps for testing and management?
• How does the rate of food allergy in our area compare to the national average?