Surveys

We want to investigate how the situation for individuals with peanut allergy appears both nationally and internationally.

Therefore we have chosen to design two surveys, one of which is directed to individuals with peanut allergy in Sweden. The second survey is to get an idea of ​​how different countries around the world have adapted the society for individuals with peanut allergy.

National survey

The aim of this survey is to gain a better understanding of how individuals with peanut allergy are affected by their allergy in everyday life. We want to find out if and how their allergy limits them in everyday situations. In this questionnaire, we investigate whether there is currently a need for a product for the detection of allergens in food and beverages.

The questionnaire:

1. Do you know which allergen(s) you are sensitive to? (For example, Ara h 1) If yes, which one/ones?
2. On a scale of 1-5 how bothered are you by your symptoms? Where 1 is no problems and 5 are major problems in daily life.
3. Do your allergies make you avoid different situations? If so, which situations?
4. How do you perceive the labelling of products containing peanuts in Sweden?
5. How do you perceive the labelling of products containing peanuts in abroad?
6. If there were a portable product obtainable to be able to detect if peanuts are present in food and beverage, would you be interested in one?
7. Is there any such product available on the market today that you are aware of?

To spread our survey, we have mostly been using social media such as Facebook. We have also contacted a number of associations for individuals with peanut allergy and asked them to fill out our survey.

International survey

Our international questionnaire was sent to 82 iGEM teams around the world and is designed to be answered as a group. The purpose of the survey is to find out how the teams experience that each country handles the problematic of peanut allergy.

The responses collected are based on how the teams experience the situation in their home countries and do not represent the actual situation entirely. However, it gives us an overall picture of the differences between countries. By sending out this survey to iGEM teams around the world, we also create opportunities for future collaborations.

The questionnaire:

1. How many in your team are allergic to peanuts?
2. How many people do you know that are allergic to peanuts?
3. How do you think the situation is for allergic people in your country?
4. How dangerous is it for a citizen with a peanut allergy in your country to live day-to-day life?
5. How does your society deal with nuts in public areas? Choose one or more of the alternatives below.
6. When making daily lifestyle choices (like eating a snack containing nuts in public) do you take into consideration the health of allergic individuals in your surroundings?
7. Do you believe that peanut allergies are increasing in prevalence in your country?

Link to international survey