Experimental treatments seek to stem rising tide of food allergies

For Amy Schwabe and her daughter, Alex, candy can be scary.

Alex is one of 15 million Americans who suffer from food allergies. In her case, eggs and peanuts must be strictly avoided to prevent a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Even things like M&Ms, which don't actually contain peanuts, are a threat because they are produced in a facility that also uses peanuts.

"We can never just go to a bakery or grab doughnuts," said Schwabe, who also writes the Milwaukee Allergy Mom blog, "and going to a baseball game is terrifying."

Based on recent numbers, doctors expect 4.1 million children to develop a food allergy this year.

Ninety percent of cases will be to eight allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish.

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