Why are city kids more prone to food allergies?

Children all over the country have grown more susceptible to dangerous allergies, but kids in urban areas are at greater risk than their rural counterparts

Whether its peanuts, gluten, dairy, or other, city kids are more likely to suffer food allergies than those who live in more rural areas.
(Image credit: Courtesy Shutterstock)

City children are more likely to suffer from food allergies than their counterparts in rural areas, according to a study in the July issue of the journal Clinical Pediatrics. The new study is the first to map children's food allergies according to where they live in the United States, says Dr. Ruchi Gupta, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Is it time for city dwellers to pack up and move to the countryside? Here, a brief guide:

What exactly did the study find?

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