Prevalence and severity of allergic diseases in the European pediatric populations increased at alarming rates during the last 2 decades. Diet is one of the most relevant environmental factors able to facilitate the occurrence of allergy in the pediatric age. Ultra-processed foods include packaged baked goods and snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, ready meals containing food additives, dehydrated vegetable soups, and reconstituted meat and fish products – often containing high levels of added sugar, fat, and/or salt, but lacking in vitamins and fiber. They are thought to account for around 25-60% of daily energy intake in many countries. Emerging evidence suggest that the consumption of ultra-processed products could be positively associated with the occurrence of allergic diseases. Thus, a ballooning diet of ultra-processed foods (junk foods) might be one of the factors fueling a rise in allergies. These detrimental effects paralleled with other negative effect on the occurrence of also other chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity and autoimmunity. It’s time now to disseminate in a correct way to the medical community as well to the general public these information with the aim to build up campaigns and other activities able to reduce the consumption of these ultraprocessed foods in particular in the first year of life.

WG Immunodulation & Nutrition (Basic & Clinical Immunology Section)

Chair: Roberto Berni Canani
Secretary: Carina Venter