Annabelle Boulay | University of Derby (original) (raw)
Papers by Annabelle Boulay
Allergy, 2008
The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, earthnut, monkey nut or goober, is a ... more The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, earthnut, monkey nut or goober, is a legume (1). Archaeological records suggest it was first encountered and used by humans in Peru between 2500 and 300 bc (2, 3). At the time of the Spanish and Portuguese conquests of America, peanuts were being grown widely in the West Indies and South America. Nowadays, the peanut is widely distributed, with the most important producing countries being India, China, USA, Argentina, Western and Southern Africa, and Brazil (4). Arachis hypogaea has four main cultivars, known as Virginia, Peruvian Runner, Valencia and Spanish (believed to have originated from different locations in South America), though breeding programmes to improve yields and disease resistance have subsequently produced many different varieties [Maleki (5) numbers 14 000 of these]. Peanut seeds are nutritious, containing many important nutrients, such as vitamin E, niacin, folacin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and potassium. They are also a good source of protein and a rich source of edible oil. Furthermore, peanuts are cheap to produce-an important factor in the context of world hunger. On the negative side, the prevalence of food allergy related to peanuts has reportedly increased in recent decades, particularly in western countries (6). Peanuts are among the highest food producers of IgE-mediated allergic reactions following ingestion (7) and they are one of the most common foods that cause an allergic reaction, both in children and adults (8-14). Allergic reactions arise as a result of immunological responses to particular proteins: in peanuts these proteins are Ara h 1 (vicilin), Ara h 2 (conglutin-homologue protein), and Ara h 3/Ara h 4 (glycinin). These proteins are considered major allergens because they are recognized by over 50% of peanut-allergic patients in the USA (13, 15), although interestingly, Ara h 1 may be only a minor allergen for some European patients (16). More recently three additional minor allergens-Ara h 6 and Ara h 7 (both conglutin-homologue proteins) as well as Ara h 5 (the plant pan-allergen profilin)-have been identified (17). Recently, Mittag et al. (18) identified, Peanuts are extensively cultivated around the world, providing a foodstuff that is both cheap to produce and nutritious. However, allergy to peanuts is of growing global concern, particularly given the severity of peanut-allergic reactions, which can include anaphalaxis and death. Consequently, it is important to understand the factors related to the prevalence of peanut allergy in order to inform efforts to ameliorate or preempt the condition. In this article we review evidence for the relevance of factors hypothesized to have some association with allergy prevalence, including both genetic and environmental factors. Although our analysis does indicate some empirical support for the importance of a number of factors, the key finding is that there are significant data gaps in the literature that undermine our ability to provide firm conclusions. We highlight these gaps, indicating questions that need to be addressed by future research.
In the past two decades farming in the European Union (EU) has come under increasing pressure to ... more In the past two decades farming in the European Union (EU) has come under increasing pressure to survive as the profits from sales of agricultural commodities have fallen despite the substantial financial inputs from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). To maintain their income, farmers have had to diversify their business. The sociocultural, political and economic reasons involved in farm diversification ought to be analysed critically at this particular time for European agriculture with the implementation of Agenda 2000 promoting farm diversification within its rural development policy. Recent changes in the CAP which aim to shift away agriculture from a purely agricultural support agenda towards a broader approach to both agricultural and rural development have encouraged diversification and/or pluriactivity among farmers. The aim of introducing diversification and/or pluriactivity on farms is to maintain falling farm income by providing another source of income in the business and spreading the economic risk, to develop rural development by the creation of jobs, but also to protect the environment. The primary aim of the research was to identify, analyse and compare the nature of diversification in two European dairy areas, sud Manche (France) and west Dorset (Britain). Sud Manche and west Dorset are two dairy areas that have a great opportunity for farm diversification linked to milk processing activities and tourism. The secondary aim of this research was to determine whether the decision-making process used by farmers to decide to diversify is driven by the changes in agricultural policy or by the characteristics of the farmers and the farms. The study used questionnaires, interviews and focus group to identify the nature and extent of diversification as well as to collect information on farmer's attitudes towards diversification. The results have showed that farmers from both study areas have diversified and have a different attitude toward diversification. The nature of diversification is different in the two areas. Farmers in sud Manche have diversified into a more agricultural orientated diversification whereas farmers in west Dorset have more non-agricultural diversification. However, some farmers in both study areas do not believe that diversification is a long term solution to the agricultural crisis in Europe. Moreover, many farmers have expressed their concerns about agricultural policy changes and the entry to the EU of countries from central and eastern Europe and the consequences this could have on agricultural prices. Farmers in sud Manche appeared not very knowledgeable about the various options to diversification and were quite reluctant to do anything else except producing food. On the other hand, farmers in west Dorset appeared to have more knowledge about diversification and pluriactivity and were more inclined to the idea of producing something else than food production.
Greek agriculture has experienced important changes during the 20th century, moving from subsiste... more Greek agriculture has experienced important changes during the 20th century, moving from subsistence to commercial farming as a result of global agriculture changes associated with the integration of Greece into the European Economic Community (EEC) (now the European Union (EU)). The implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Greece has had a profound impact on the Cretan countryside and the changes in agricultural practices have had several impacts on Cretan social and cultural landscapes. The productivist agricultural policy has led to intensification of farming with large amounts of capital invested in farming. Rural livelihoods have also been affected as the rural exodus led people (including farmers) to migrate to urban areas for employment. In recent years, the post-productivist approach to agriculture has encouraged a more sustainable approach to farming by adopting extensive farming as well as diversification. This study used a qualitative approach using in de...
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2008
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2014
ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular conc... more ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular concern, given that this is rarely outgrown and may be associated with life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, it is unclear what factors are responsible for a perceived increase in prevalence rates. One matter on which scientists agree, however, is that exposure to peanuts early in life is significant – although whether early exposure protects or sensitizes to allergy is unclear. There is no significant research that currently records differences in early life exposure either within or between populations. This exploratory study makes a first step in this direction using focus groups conducted in four countries with disparate ‘peanut experiences’ to characterize early exposure in these. The ultimate aim is to help in the development of a survey instrument to attain nationally representative samples of consumers and hence to use the results from this to compare with allergy prevalence data collected in other parts of the European Union-funded ‘EuroPrevall’ project. The results in this study not only reveal considerable similarities across countries (e.g. in terms of lack of knowledge of guidelines; lack of changes in feeding behaviour during/after pregnancy, feelings that diet variety in children is important) but also one or two interesting and potentially important differences, such as increased consumption in Bulgarian (and some Spanish) breastfeeding mothers because of the ability of peanuts to facilitate lactation. Study limitations and future study intentions are also discussed.
Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
Peanuts are one of the main food allergens, occasionally responsible for life-threatening reactio... more Peanuts are one of the main food allergens, occasionally responsible for life-threatening reactions. Thus, many studies have tried to fi nd a connection between peanut allergy prevalence and processes in the peanut chain that may contribute to the peanut allergenicity. To inform this discussion, this paper outlines experiences in peanut cultivation, trade and processing in Europe, focusing on four European countries with different peanut experiences (Poland, Bulgaria, Spain and the UK). Results here are based on documentary analysis and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 32 experts involved in various stages of the peanut chain, including peanut farmers, processors, traders, food technologists and manufacturers. A common peanut chain diagram has been drawn considering shelled and in-shell peanuts. The analysis of each stage of peanut processing has been made in accordance with this peanut chain schema. Thermal and mechanical processes are discussed alongside the resultant...
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2014
ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular conc... more ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular concern, given that this is rarely outgrown and may be associated with life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, it is unclear what factors are responsible for a perceived increase in prevalence rates. One matter on which scientists agree, however, is that exposure to peanuts early in life is significant – although whether early exposure protects or sensitizes to allergy is unclear. There is no significant research that currently records differences in early life exposure either within or between populations. This exploratory study makes a first step in this direction using focus groups conducted in four countries with disparate ‘peanut experiences’ to characterize early exposure in these. The ultimate aim is to help in the development of a survey instrument to attain nationally representative samples of consumers and hence to use the results from this to compare with allergy prevalence data collected in other parts of the European Union-funded ‘EuroPrevall’ project. The results in this study not only reveal considerable similarities across countries (e.g. in terms of lack of knowledge of guidelines; lack of changes in feeding behaviour during/after pregnancy, feelings that diet variety in children is important) but also one or two interesting and potentially important differences, such as increased consumption in Bulgarian (and some Spanish) breastfeeding mothers because of the ability of peanuts to facilitate lactation. Study limitations and future study intentions are also discussed.
Appetite, 2013
This study investigated UK consumers' perceptions, knowledge and understanding of the salt they c... more This study investigated UK consumers' perceptions, knowledge and understanding of the salt they consume in their diet and the significance of this for their health. Ten focus groups were conducted in two UK cities (Norwich and London) with a total of 72 participants. Most participants were unaware of the advised salt guidelines (6 g per day), or what this equated to within their diet, mainly because they were unclear about how much salt they consumed, given that much is 'hidden' in pre-prepared foods. However, participants were aware of the link between high salt intake and certain negative health associations, though they were unsure about the precise connection. As such, consumption practices were largely driven by habit and lifestyle choices, rather than health considerations. The paper concludes by suggesting that further salt awareness campaigns are needed and that these should be made more relevant to consumers by addressing specific knowledge deficits (such as the presence of 'hidden' salt), although given the intractable nature of human behaviour, more direct efforts to lower salt content (e.g. through manufacturing changes) might be required.
Allergy, 2009
The relationship between infant feeding patterns and the later development of food allergies has ... more The relationship between infant feeding patterns and the later development of food allergies has been the focus of much debate and research over the last decade. National recommendations have been made by many countries on how to feed infants to reduce the risk of food allergy but due to the lack of firm evidence the recommendations differ widely. This review has been developed as part of EuroPrevall, a European multicentre research project funded by the European Union, to document the differing feeding recommendations made across Europe, to investigate the current evidence base for any allergy prevention feeding recommendations and to identify areas where further research is needed. This review will also provide information which, when combined with the infant feeding data collected as part of EuroPrevall, will give an indication of compliance to national feeding guidelines which can be utilised to assess the effectiveness of current dissemination and implementation strategies.
Allergy, 2008
Peanuts are extensively cultivated around the world, providing a foodstuff that is both cheap to ... more Peanuts are extensively cultivated around the world, providing a foodstuff that is both cheap to produce and nutritious. However, allergy to peanuts is of growing global concern, particularly given the severity of peanut-allergic reactions, which can include anaphylaxis and death. Consequently, it is important to understand the factors related to the prevalence of peanut allergy in order to inform efforts to ameliorate or pre-empt the condition. In this article we review evidence for the relevance of factors hypothesized to have some association with allergy prevalence, including both genetic and environmental factors. Although our analysis does indicate some empirical support for the importance of a number of factors, the key finding is that there are significant data gaps in the literature that undermine our ability to provide firm conclusions. We highlight these gaps, indicating questions that need to be addressed by future research.
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2009
Rates of peanut allergy in the Western world have increased over the last 30 years, although it i... more Rates of peanut allergy in the Western world have increased over the last 30 years, although it is unclear why. While eating behaviours are likely to be connected to allergy prevalence, the precise relevant factors are uncertain. This study aimed to investigate dietary differences and changes in dietary habits in peanut consumption (in apparent and hidden forms) in four different countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, UK), specifically chosen because of their different ‘peanut experiences’. Focus groups revealed a common perception that dietary habits have become less healthy, with more consumption of processed foods and an increase in snacking. In addition, ethnic cuisine was perceived to have had an important impact on European eating habits, while participants identified an increase in consumption of more ‘exotic’ forms of peanuts and their products. These findings point to an increase in exposure to peanuts, particularly in hidden forms, that superficially parallels increased prevalence rates. However, it was also clear that participants lacked knowledge about the composition of food and non-food products. The dietary trends identified here thus warrant further quantitative investigation, particularly in the context of differential national patterns of allergy prevalence – data on which is currently being gathered within the EC-funded EuroPrevall project.
Innovations in Rural Areas, Jan 1, 2003
MYTH OR REALITY? DIVERSIFICATION IN THE DAIRY AREAS OF MANCHE, FRANCE AND DORSET, BRITAIN. Annabe... more MYTH OR REALITY? DIVERSIFICATION IN THE DAIRY AREAS OF MANCHE, FRANCE AND DORSET, BRITAIN. Annabelle BOULAY School of Earth Sciences and Geography, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road Abstract: During the last two decades, agriculture has ...
Revija za geografijo-Journal for Geography, Jan 1, 2010
International …, Jan 1, 2009
Allergy, 2008
The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, earthnut, monkey nut or goober, is a ... more The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, earthnut, monkey nut or goober, is a legume (1). Archaeological records suggest it was first encountered and used by humans in Peru between 2500 and 300 bc (2, 3). At the time of the Spanish and Portuguese conquests of America, peanuts were being grown widely in the West Indies and South America. Nowadays, the peanut is widely distributed, with the most important producing countries being India, China, USA, Argentina, Western and Southern Africa, and Brazil (4). Arachis hypogaea has four main cultivars, known as Virginia, Peruvian Runner, Valencia and Spanish (believed to have originated from different locations in South America), though breeding programmes to improve yields and disease resistance have subsequently produced many different varieties [Maleki (5) numbers 14 000 of these]. Peanut seeds are nutritious, containing many important nutrients, such as vitamin E, niacin, folacin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and potassium. They are also a good source of protein and a rich source of edible oil. Furthermore, peanuts are cheap to produce-an important factor in the context of world hunger. On the negative side, the prevalence of food allergy related to peanuts has reportedly increased in recent decades, particularly in western countries (6). Peanuts are among the highest food producers of IgE-mediated allergic reactions following ingestion (7) and they are one of the most common foods that cause an allergic reaction, both in children and adults (8-14). Allergic reactions arise as a result of immunological responses to particular proteins: in peanuts these proteins are Ara h 1 (vicilin), Ara h 2 (conglutin-homologue protein), and Ara h 3/Ara h 4 (glycinin). These proteins are considered major allergens because they are recognized by over 50% of peanut-allergic patients in the USA (13, 15), although interestingly, Ara h 1 may be only a minor allergen for some European patients (16). More recently three additional minor allergens-Ara h 6 and Ara h 7 (both conglutin-homologue proteins) as well as Ara h 5 (the plant pan-allergen profilin)-have been identified (17). Recently, Mittag et al. (18) identified, Peanuts are extensively cultivated around the world, providing a foodstuff that is both cheap to produce and nutritious. However, allergy to peanuts is of growing global concern, particularly given the severity of peanut-allergic reactions, which can include anaphalaxis and death. Consequently, it is important to understand the factors related to the prevalence of peanut allergy in order to inform efforts to ameliorate or preempt the condition. In this article we review evidence for the relevance of factors hypothesized to have some association with allergy prevalence, including both genetic and environmental factors. Although our analysis does indicate some empirical support for the importance of a number of factors, the key finding is that there are significant data gaps in the literature that undermine our ability to provide firm conclusions. We highlight these gaps, indicating questions that need to be addressed by future research.
In the past two decades farming in the European Union (EU) has come under increasing pressure to ... more In the past two decades farming in the European Union (EU) has come under increasing pressure to survive as the profits from sales of agricultural commodities have fallen despite the substantial financial inputs from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). To maintain their income, farmers have had to diversify their business. The sociocultural, political and economic reasons involved in farm diversification ought to be analysed critically at this particular time for European agriculture with the implementation of Agenda 2000 promoting farm diversification within its rural development policy. Recent changes in the CAP which aim to shift away agriculture from a purely agricultural support agenda towards a broader approach to both agricultural and rural development have encouraged diversification and/or pluriactivity among farmers. The aim of introducing diversification and/or pluriactivity on farms is to maintain falling farm income by providing another source of income in the business and spreading the economic risk, to develop rural development by the creation of jobs, but also to protect the environment. The primary aim of the research was to identify, analyse and compare the nature of diversification in two European dairy areas, sud Manche (France) and west Dorset (Britain). Sud Manche and west Dorset are two dairy areas that have a great opportunity for farm diversification linked to milk processing activities and tourism. The secondary aim of this research was to determine whether the decision-making process used by farmers to decide to diversify is driven by the changes in agricultural policy or by the characteristics of the farmers and the farms. The study used questionnaires, interviews and focus group to identify the nature and extent of diversification as well as to collect information on farmer's attitudes towards diversification. The results have showed that farmers from both study areas have diversified and have a different attitude toward diversification. The nature of diversification is different in the two areas. Farmers in sud Manche have diversified into a more agricultural orientated diversification whereas farmers in west Dorset have more non-agricultural diversification. However, some farmers in both study areas do not believe that diversification is a long term solution to the agricultural crisis in Europe. Moreover, many farmers have expressed their concerns about agricultural policy changes and the entry to the EU of countries from central and eastern Europe and the consequences this could have on agricultural prices. Farmers in sud Manche appeared not very knowledgeable about the various options to diversification and were quite reluctant to do anything else except producing food. On the other hand, farmers in west Dorset appeared to have more knowledge about diversification and pluriactivity and were more inclined to the idea of producing something else than food production.
Greek agriculture has experienced important changes during the 20th century, moving from subsiste... more Greek agriculture has experienced important changes during the 20th century, moving from subsistence to commercial farming as a result of global agriculture changes associated with the integration of Greece into the European Economic Community (EEC) (now the European Union (EU)). The implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Greece has had a profound impact on the Cretan countryside and the changes in agricultural practices have had several impacts on Cretan social and cultural landscapes. The productivist agricultural policy has led to intensification of farming with large amounts of capital invested in farming. Rural livelihoods have also been affected as the rural exodus led people (including farmers) to migrate to urban areas for employment. In recent years, the post-productivist approach to agriculture has encouraged a more sustainable approach to farming by adopting extensive farming as well as diversification. This study used a qualitative approach using in de...
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2008
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2014
ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular conc... more ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular concern, given that this is rarely outgrown and may be associated with life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, it is unclear what factors are responsible for a perceived increase in prevalence rates. One matter on which scientists agree, however, is that exposure to peanuts early in life is significant – although whether early exposure protects or sensitizes to allergy is unclear. There is no significant research that currently records differences in early life exposure either within or between populations. This exploratory study makes a first step in this direction using focus groups conducted in four countries with disparate ‘peanut experiences’ to characterize early exposure in these. The ultimate aim is to help in the development of a survey instrument to attain nationally representative samples of consumers and hence to use the results from this to compare with allergy prevalence data collected in other parts of the European Union-funded ‘EuroPrevall’ project. The results in this study not only reveal considerable similarities across countries (e.g. in terms of lack of knowledge of guidelines; lack of changes in feeding behaviour during/after pregnancy, feelings that diet variety in children is important) but also one or two interesting and potentially important differences, such as increased consumption in Bulgarian (and some Spanish) breastfeeding mothers because of the ability of peanuts to facilitate lactation. Study limitations and future study intentions are also discussed.
Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
Peanuts are one of the main food allergens, occasionally responsible for life-threatening reactio... more Peanuts are one of the main food allergens, occasionally responsible for life-threatening reactions. Thus, many studies have tried to fi nd a connection between peanut allergy prevalence and processes in the peanut chain that may contribute to the peanut allergenicity. To inform this discussion, this paper outlines experiences in peanut cultivation, trade and processing in Europe, focusing on four European countries with different peanut experiences (Poland, Bulgaria, Spain and the UK). Results here are based on documentary analysis and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 32 experts involved in various stages of the peanut chain, including peanut farmers, processors, traders, food technologists and manufacturers. A common peanut chain diagram has been drawn considering shelled and in-shell peanuts. The analysis of each stage of peanut processing has been made in accordance with this peanut chain schema. Thermal and mechanical processes are discussed alongside the resultant...
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2014
ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular conc... more ABSTRACT Food allergy is an increasing problem worldwide. Allergy to peanuts is a particular concern, given that this is rarely outgrown and may be associated with life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, it is unclear what factors are responsible for a perceived increase in prevalence rates. One matter on which scientists agree, however, is that exposure to peanuts early in life is significant – although whether early exposure protects or sensitizes to allergy is unclear. There is no significant research that currently records differences in early life exposure either within or between populations. This exploratory study makes a first step in this direction using focus groups conducted in four countries with disparate ‘peanut experiences’ to characterize early exposure in these. The ultimate aim is to help in the development of a survey instrument to attain nationally representative samples of consumers and hence to use the results from this to compare with allergy prevalence data collected in other parts of the European Union-funded ‘EuroPrevall’ project. The results in this study not only reveal considerable similarities across countries (e.g. in terms of lack of knowledge of guidelines; lack of changes in feeding behaviour during/after pregnancy, feelings that diet variety in children is important) but also one or two interesting and potentially important differences, such as increased consumption in Bulgarian (and some Spanish) breastfeeding mothers because of the ability of peanuts to facilitate lactation. Study limitations and future study intentions are also discussed.
Appetite, 2013
This study investigated UK consumers' perceptions, knowledge and understanding of the salt they c... more This study investigated UK consumers' perceptions, knowledge and understanding of the salt they consume in their diet and the significance of this for their health. Ten focus groups were conducted in two UK cities (Norwich and London) with a total of 72 participants. Most participants were unaware of the advised salt guidelines (6 g per day), or what this equated to within their diet, mainly because they were unclear about how much salt they consumed, given that much is 'hidden' in pre-prepared foods. However, participants were aware of the link between high salt intake and certain negative health associations, though they were unsure about the precise connection. As such, consumption practices were largely driven by habit and lifestyle choices, rather than health considerations. The paper concludes by suggesting that further salt awareness campaigns are needed and that these should be made more relevant to consumers by addressing specific knowledge deficits (such as the presence of 'hidden' salt), although given the intractable nature of human behaviour, more direct efforts to lower salt content (e.g. through manufacturing changes) might be required.
Allergy, 2009
The relationship between infant feeding patterns and the later development of food allergies has ... more The relationship between infant feeding patterns and the later development of food allergies has been the focus of much debate and research over the last decade. National recommendations have been made by many countries on how to feed infants to reduce the risk of food allergy but due to the lack of firm evidence the recommendations differ widely. This review has been developed as part of EuroPrevall, a European multicentre research project funded by the European Union, to document the differing feeding recommendations made across Europe, to investigate the current evidence base for any allergy prevention feeding recommendations and to identify areas where further research is needed. This review will also provide information which, when combined with the infant feeding data collected as part of EuroPrevall, will give an indication of compliance to national feeding guidelines which can be utilised to assess the effectiveness of current dissemination and implementation strategies.
Allergy, 2008
Peanuts are extensively cultivated around the world, providing a foodstuff that is both cheap to ... more Peanuts are extensively cultivated around the world, providing a foodstuff that is both cheap to produce and nutritious. However, allergy to peanuts is of growing global concern, particularly given the severity of peanut-allergic reactions, which can include anaphylaxis and death. Consequently, it is important to understand the factors related to the prevalence of peanut allergy in order to inform efforts to ameliorate or pre-empt the condition. In this article we review evidence for the relevance of factors hypothesized to have some association with allergy prevalence, including both genetic and environmental factors. Although our analysis does indicate some empirical support for the importance of a number of factors, the key finding is that there are significant data gaps in the literature that undermine our ability to provide firm conclusions. We highlight these gaps, indicating questions that need to be addressed by future research.
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2009
Rates of peanut allergy in the Western world have increased over the last 30 years, although it i... more Rates of peanut allergy in the Western world have increased over the last 30 years, although it is unclear why. While eating behaviours are likely to be connected to allergy prevalence, the precise relevant factors are uncertain. This study aimed to investigate dietary differences and changes in dietary habits in peanut consumption (in apparent and hidden forms) in four different countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, UK), specifically chosen because of their different ‘peanut experiences’. Focus groups revealed a common perception that dietary habits have become less healthy, with more consumption of processed foods and an increase in snacking. In addition, ethnic cuisine was perceived to have had an important impact on European eating habits, while participants identified an increase in consumption of more ‘exotic’ forms of peanuts and their products. These findings point to an increase in exposure to peanuts, particularly in hidden forms, that superficially parallels increased prevalence rates. However, it was also clear that participants lacked knowledge about the composition of food and non-food products. The dietary trends identified here thus warrant further quantitative investigation, particularly in the context of differential national patterns of allergy prevalence – data on which is currently being gathered within the EC-funded EuroPrevall project.
Innovations in Rural Areas, Jan 1, 2003
MYTH OR REALITY? DIVERSIFICATION IN THE DAIRY AREAS OF MANCHE, FRANCE AND DORSET, BRITAIN. Annabe... more MYTH OR REALITY? DIVERSIFICATION IN THE DAIRY AREAS OF MANCHE, FRANCE AND DORSET, BRITAIN. Annabelle BOULAY School of Earth Sciences and Geography, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road Abstract: During the last two decades, agriculture has ...
Revija za geografijo-Journal for Geography, Jan 1, 2010
International …, Jan 1, 2009