The answer to the question, “can you all of the sudden become allergic to peanuts?” is certainly yes. Food allergies can develop at any time in an individual's life. However, it is important to recognize that adult-onset peanut allergy appears to be far less common than other potential allergies, such as shellfish.

How did the peanut allergy originate?

Scientists are still researching the origins of peanut allergies, but some of the reigning theories include: Living Cleaner: People are living more hygienically than in the past, which some scientists believe may cause our immune systems to overreact to the otherwise harmless proteins in peanuts.

Did peanut allergies develop?

Over the last several decades, the prevalence of peanut allergies in children in the United States has more than tripled. The reasons behind this dramatic increase are unclear. Lifestyle, diet choices and genetics all seem to play a role.