Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36743384›Full record

ArticleThe World Allergy Organization journal2023

Food allergies and allergens in Lebanon: Characterization and perceptions toward labeling.

Berna Elrahi, Zeina Mehanna, Suzan Haidar, Mireille Serhan, Hussein F Hassan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The World Allergy Organization journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
3.9field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Berna ElrahiDepartment of Family & Consumer Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA.
Zeina MehannaNutrition Program, Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, 1102 2801, Koraytem, Beirut, Lebanon.
Suzan HaidarDepartment of Nutrition and Food Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Salim Salam, Beirut, Lebanon.
Mireille SerhanUniversity of Balamand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Deir El Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon.
Hussein F HassanDepartment of Natural Sciences, Nutrition Program, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, 1102 2801, Koraytem, Beirut, Lebanon.
Lebanese American University · LBLebanese International University · LBSam Houston State University · USUniversity of Balamand · LB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Food allergy is a life-threatening medical condition of public health concern. The aim of our study was to characterize food allergies, in terms of sources, symptoms, severity, and history, as well as to assess the knowledge, practices, and attitudes towards food allergens and allergies, in addition to food allergen labeling, in Lebanon. Methods: For this, 1100 participants filled over the phone a comprehensive valid questionnaire composed of 41 questions. Results: Fruits were reported as top food allergens (29.6%), while itching and rash were the most reported symptoms (9.6% and 8.0%, respectively). In terms of knowledge, participants scored on average 67.9 ± 16.2%. Participants who identified as females, below 35 years, highly educated, and from health backgrounds had a significantly higher score (p < 0.05), while area of residence did not have any significant effect (p > 0.05). Participants who are medically diagnosed with allergies and those with health background were found to check the ingredients list and read nutritional claims significantly more frequently than those from a non-health background and who are non-medically diagnosed, respectively, while females were found to check ingredients list and read nutritional claims significantly more frequently (p < 0.05). The majority reported that ingredients are easy to understand (63.2%) and simple to read (61.3%), while allergic individuals agreed that the font size of the ingredients list is not big enough (56.8%) and that E-code numbers are not understood (68.7%). The majority considered it "important" to have the label writings larger and bolded (85.7%), to use simple language (95.5%), to place allergen warning (82.2%), and to use a striking allergen symbol (93.5%). Conclusions: Our results emphasize the need for national awareness campaigns to improve knowledge and practices, and to lobby policymakers for appropriate management of food allergies and allergens in Lebanon.

Indexed as

AttitudesFood allergensFood allergyKnowledgeLebanon

Identifiers

PMID36743384
PMCPMC9874066
OpenAlexW4319293811

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.