Nutrition experts are sounding the alarm over a growing public health risk, as a surge in self-diagnosed food allergies and intolerances is putting Britons in danger of malnutrition and eating disorders.
The Rise of the Self-Diagnosis Epidemic
A new survey for the Daily Mail reveals a startling trend: one in four adults in the UK now claims to have a food allergy or intolerance. However, the path to these diagnoses is deeply concerning for health professionals. Fewer than half (49%) of those with a claimed allergy and less than a third (31%) with an intolerance received a formal diagnosis from a doctor or qualified health specialist.
Instead, many are turning to unreliable sources. The survey found that two in five (39%) who say they have an intolerance diagnosed themselves after researching symptoms online, while one in five (19%) used a commercial home testing kit bought online or from the high street.
Dodgy Kits and Digital Dangers
Paediatric dietitian and British Dietetic Association spokesperson Lucy Upton confirmed a definite trend of increasing self-diagnosis over the past decade. "Social media is playing a huge role," she warned, noting that even parents are now using platforms like ChatGPT to seek answers for their children's symptoms.
"I can't tell you how many parents, adults, friends, colleagues, go through this process of, well, it must be something in food," Ms Upton explained. This often leads to a haphazard elimination diet, cutting out gluten or dairy first, then progressively removing more foods based on perceived reactions, without professional guidance.
Some invest in at-home tests, which can cost up to £400 per kit and require a finger-prick blood sample. However, nutritionists stress these kits lack the accuracy needed for clinical use and cannot provide a reliable diagnosis.
Real Risks: Deficiencies and Missed Diagnoses
The consequences of this trend are severe and twofold. Firstly, elimination diets undertaken without supervision can lead to significant nutrient deficiencies. "If you self-diagnose and cut out food groups, you increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies," Ms Upton emphasised, noting she sees this worrying pattern in growing children whose development is at stake.
Secondly, the real underlying cause of symptoms may go untreated. Dr Federica Amati, nutrition lead at Imperial College London, highlighted the dangers of relying on self-diagnosis. "These include misdiagnosis, unnecessary and overly restrictive eating patterns, increased health anxiety and delays in identifying underlying conditions such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease," she said.
According to the Ipsos survey, the most common self-reported allergy is to tree nuts like almonds and hazelnuts, followed by crustaceans and peanuts. For intolerances, gluten, milk, and sulphites top the list.
Experts unanimously urge the public to seek advice from qualified dietitians or allergy specialists rather than turning to unverified online tools, social media trends, or commercial testing kits, to protect their long-term health and nutritional wellbeing.
