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More U.S. children may have food allergies than previously thought, a new survey suggests. The survey found that 8% of children are allergic to some food. Nearly 40% of those allergies are severe. The most recent U.S. government estimate is that 4% of children have food allergies. The new survey was done through online interviews. It included parents of more than 40,000 U.S. children under age 18. People who said their child had a food allergy were asked if a doctor had diagnosed it. The survey also asked about allergy symptoms. The Food Allergy Initiative paid for the study. This is an advocacy group funded by the parents of children with food allergies. The journal Pediatrics published the study. The Associated Press wrote about it June 20.