Description

In 2021, FOALERGYEV identifies sample adults and sample children whom a doctor or other health professional had ever diagnosed as having an allergy to food. This is a follow-up question to FALLERGYR. The ordering of these questions is deliberate and is used to distinguish between individuals who self-diagnose and individuals who have been diagnosed by a health professional. Individuals are first asked if they have a current food allergy, if they respond with "yes", they will be then asked if the allergy was diagnosed by a health professional.

In 2002, FOALERGYEV identifies sample adults whom a doctor or other health professional had ever diagnosed as having an allergic reaction to food or odors. Those who had ever received such a diagnosis were asked the follow-up question, "During the past 12 months, have you had an allergic reaction to food or odors?" (FOALERGYR).

Information on food allergies was also collected for sample children. For children, however, the interviewer simply asked whether the child had "any kind of food or digestive allergy" during the past 12 months, without requiring that the allergy be diagnosed by a doctor or other health professional (FALLERGYR).

For more information on related allergy variables see (FALLERGYR).

Comparability

In 2021, odor allergy was removed from the scope of the variable.

Comparability may be affected by changes to the universe over time and the 2019 questionnaire redesign. The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.

Universe

Availability

• 2002, 2021

Weights

• 2002, 2021 : SAMPWEIGHT