More adults are suddenly developing allergic reactions later in life and experts are not sure why.

Nearly 50 percent of adults developed at least one food allergy in adulthood according to a 2019 investigation published in JAMA.

Illana Golant founded the Food and Allergy Fund in New York City. She told Fox News Digital that she developed allergies in her 40s.

“That is not fully understood at all or recognized … we don’t know why they’re starting at certain points.”

The Food and Allergy Fund hosted a forum last week in Washington, D.C., attended by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, FDA Chief Martin Makary and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya.

Health officials and researchers are investigating whether allergies may be caused by gut health microbes.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Makary shared how the function of microbiomes has evolved over time. The intestine hosts over a billion different types of bacteria which normally live in balance according to Makary.

“But when it’s altered by the modern-day diet and by antibiotics and other exposures … that disequilibrium can cause inflammation [and] health problems, and it may be implicated in food allergies.”

Golant shared that there seems to be a critical inflection point as some foods trigger adults more than children.

“Seafood shellfish [and] tree nuts seem to be proliferating among adults.”

Shellfish was the top allergen in adults according to a 2018 survey of over 40,000 people that was published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Golant said she luckily knew about allergies when she had her first anaphylactic reaction.

“If I didn’t know about food allergies, I would have thought I was having a heart attack. Genetics can’t change so quickly. In a generation, food allergies have skyrocketed.”

Approximately one in 10 adults are affected by food allergies according to FAF.

“It’s very much the perfect storm of a variety of environmental triggers. We still don’t know which ones and … if there is one primary [trigger], but my guess is that more likely, it is a perfect storm.”

The presence of Kennedy, Makary and Bhattacharya at the forum signals that the Trump administration is taking this health crisis seriously. These three officials have made reforming American health priorities a major focus of their work.

Kennedy has been vocal about investigating what he calls chronic disease epidemics affecting Americans. He believes modern food processing, environmental toxins and pharmaceutical overuse may be contributing factors to many health problems including allergies.

The gut microbiome theory aligns with research Kennedy has promoted about how disruptions to natural body systems can trigger cascading health issues. When the balance of bacteria in the intestines gets thrown off, it can cause inflammation throughout the body.

Modern diets heavy in processed foods and sugar may be damaging gut health in ways previous generations never experienced. Add in widespread antibiotic use which kills beneficial bacteria along with harmful ones and you have conditions ripe for immune system dysfunction.

The fact that genetics cannot explain the rapid rise in allergies points to environmental and dietary causes. Human DNA has not changed significantly in one generation, but allergy rates have exploded during that same period.

Adults developing new allergies face particular challenges because they may not recognize the symptoms. Someone who has eaten shellfish their entire life without problems might suddenly experience a severe reaction and mistake it for a heart attack or other medical emergency.

Anaphylaxis can be fatal if not treated quickly with epinephrine. Adults who develop allergies later in life need to learn the warning signs and carry emergency medication even for foods they previously ate without issue.

The research into gut health and allergies could lead to new treatments or preventive measures. If scientists can identify exactly how microbiome disruption triggers allergic responses, they may be able to develop ways to restore proper bacterial balance and reduce allergy risk.

For now, adults should pay attention to any new reactions they experience after eating. Symptoms like throat swelling, difficulty breathing, hives or rapid heartbeat after consuming certain foods warrant immediate medical attention and follow-up allergy testing.

The mysterious rise in adult allergies represents yet another chronic health problem that American health officials are trying to understand and address. Finding answers could help millions of people who suddenly find themselves unable to eat foods they enjoyed for decades.