Food Allergy Knowledge in the Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia Using the Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey in a...

Food allergy is an immune-mediated adverse reaction to specific foods. Understanding food allergy is important for early recognition of symptoms, timely treatment, and prevention of potentially life-threatening reactions. This cross-sectional study included 566 participants and aimed to assess food allergy knowledge among the general public in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected between February and April 2026 using an Arabic-adapted version of the validated Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey (CFARS), distributed electronically through trained data collectors. Knowledge scores were dichotomized at a threshold of 70%. Responses were analyzed using SPSS. The study found that 64 participants (11.3%) had good knowledge, while the majority, 502 participants (88.7%), had poor knowledge about food allergy. Higher total monthly family income was independently associated with higher odds of good knowledge (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.08-1.67, p = 0.007), while having a relative working in the medical field was associated with lower odds (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.30-0.91, p = 0.021). The study found significant gaps in food allergy knowledge among the general public in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, with the majority demonstrating poor knowledge. Higher monthly family income was independently associated with higher odds of good knowledge. Targeted educational interventions are needed to improve public knowledge and awareness of food allergy.