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1Background: Data is lacking regarding the prevalence of food sensitization and probable food allergy 2 among general population in India. We report the prevalence of sensitization and prevalence of 3 probable food allergy to 24 common foods among adults from general population in Karnataka, 4 South India. 5Methodology: The study was conducted in two stages; a screening study and a case-control study. 6 11,791 adults in age group 20-54 were randomly sampled from general population in South India 7 and answered a screening questionnaire. 588 subjects (236 cases and 352 controls) participated in 8 the case control study involving a detailed questionnaire and specific IgE estimation for 24 common 9 foods. 10Results: A high level of sensitization (26.5%) was observed to most of the foods in the general 11 population, higher than that observed among adults in Europe, except for those foods that cross 12 react with birch pollen. Most of the sensitization was observed in subjects who had total IgE above 13 the median IgE level. A high level of cross reactivity was observed among different pollens and foods 14 and among foods. The prevalence of probable food allergy (self-reports of adverse symptoms after 15 consumption of food and specific IgE to the same food) was 1.2%, which was mainly accounted for 16 cow's milk (0.5%) and apple (0.5%). 17Conclusion: Very high levels of sensitization was observed for most foods, including those not 18 commonly consumed in the general population. For the levels of sensitization, the prevalence of 19 probable food allergy was low. This disassociation needs to be further explored in future studies. 20

This will be the first comparative study of the epidemiology of food allergies in China, India, and Russia using the same standardized methodology. The findings of these surveys will complement the data obtained from Europe and provide insights into the development of food allergy.

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