Food allergy is an important but under-recognized public health issue, especially in settings where awareness, diagnosis, emergency response, and food-label literacy remain uneven. International evidence shows that food allergy can impose a substantial clinical, social, and psychological burden, while South Asian evidence remains limited and fragmented. Reviews of South Asian literature have highlighted the scarcity of community-based data, and Indian studies from Kolkata, Hyderabad, and North India suggest that awareness gaps exist among both the public and healthcare professionals. India’s current food-labelling regulations require separate allergen declaration for specific ingredients, but effective consumer protection depends not only on regulation but also on public understanding of labels and risk avoidance.

This model comparative pilot study examines knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to food allergy among adults in urban and rural communities of Jharkhand. An illustrative cross-sectional pilot sample of 200 respondents was used, equally divided between urban and rural participants. Data were assumed to be collected through a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, food-allergy knowledge, attitudes toward prevention and management, and food-related safety practices. The illustrative findings suggest that urban respondents showed higher knowledge and better routine practices than rural respondents, although attitudes toward the seriousness of food allergy were relatively positive in both groups. The widest gap appeared between awareness and action: many respondents expressed support for food-allergy precautions, but fewer regularly read labels, asked about ingredients, or sought formal medical advice after reactions. These model findings imply that food-allergy education in Jharkhand should focus on symptom recognition, label interpretation, cross-contact prevention, and timely care-seeking. Community campaigns, school-based education, and locally understandable food-safety messaging may help translate favourable attitudes into safer practices.