Background: This study compares knowledge and attitude regarding food allergy (FA)—a growing global problem—among the
general population and FA patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including the public in the Makkah region, Saudi
Arabia. Participants were contacted via social media to participate in a 22-item self-administrated questionnaire survey about FA
between April and June 2021. Data were collected in Excel documents and analyzed using SPSS. Results: The study included 487
participants: 397 from the general population; 90 FA patients. FA patients (65.6%) possessed better FA knowledge compared to the
general population (49.9%) with reported statistical significance (P=0.007). Knowledge was most vital regarding symptoms and
severity among both study groups. Females and younger participants possessed better FA knowledge (P<0.001). Both FA patients
(81.1%) and the general population (72.0%) revealed a positive attitude. Female gender and high school/diploma education level
were significantly associated with a positive attitude: P=0.014, 0.018, respectively. Conclusions: Both groups exhibited insufficient FA
knowledge, but a positive attitude. Therefore, FA awareness programs are crucial to mitigate FA risks and complications.
Keywords: food allergy, awareness, general population, Saudi Arabia