Occupational reactions to foods.

The spectrum of occupational diseases most commonly seen in the food industry includes occupational asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Occupational asthma represents between 3% and 20% of all asthma cases and is the most common form of occupational lung disease. Occupational skin diseases may represent between 10% and 15% of all occupational diseases, and they have significant economic impact. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis affects the food industry, with farmer's lung representing a common form of the disease. Each of these diseases may have serious and potentially irreversible effects on the health of a farmer, food processor, or food preparer, even after removal of the offending exposure.