Food allergies are common — but not as common as people think, study suggests

Millions of U.S. adults have a food allergy — but far more think they do and likely don't, according to a new study. Researchers surveyed more than 40,000 adults about whether they thought they had food allergies and if they did, what kinds of symptoms they experienced. They ruled a person food-allergic if they experienced certain symptoms, such as hives, throat tightening, and chest pain. They didn't count gastrointestinal problems. The study found that while 19 percent of adults reported a food allergy, only 11 percent actually had one. The researchers say it's important for adults who think they have food allergies to get tested. A note: One of the study's funders was Aimmune Therapeutics, which is developing food allergy treatments.