Kids Bullied Over Food Allergies

When asked to respond to a multi-item list about food allergy-related bullying, 31% of kids said they'd been bullied, teased, or harassed about their food allergy.

A University of Michigan study looked at food allergy-related bullying among a diverse patient population and evaluated parent-child disagreement and bullying assessment methods. It included 121 children and 121 primary caregivers who completed questionnaires. The children ranged in age from 9 to 15-years-old and were diagnosed by an allergist with at least one of the top eight IgE-mediated food allergies -- peanut, tree nut, cow's milk, egg, wheat, soy, shellfish and fish.

"The results of this study demonstrate a need for greater food allergy education and awareness of food allergy-related bullying among communities and schools where food allergy-related bullying is most likely to occur."

Of the 41 youth who reported food allergy-related bullying:

• 51% reported experiencing overt physical acts such as an allergen being waved in their face, thrown at them or intentionally put in their food.

• 66% reported bullying experiences that are categorized as non-physical overt victimization acts including verbal teasing, remarks or criticisms about their allergy and verbal threats or intimidation.

• Eight reported relational bullying, such as rumors being spread, people speaking behind their back and being intentionally ignored or excluded due to their food allergy.

The researchers also note that food allergy bullying perpetrators included, but were not limited to, classmates and other students, and bullying most commonly occurred at school.

The authors found that only 12% of parents reported that their child had been bullied because of their food allergy and of those, 93% said their child had reported the bullying to them. Some parents reported they had been made fun of or teased themselves because of concerns about their child's food allergy.

"It's important to find ways for children to open up about food allergy-related bullying," one researcher said. "Asking additional specific questions about peer experiences during clinic appointments will hopefully get children and caregivers the help and support they need."