Peanut allergies: is this a new problem, or has it always been there, and we just didn't know about it?

Old problem: Allergists have been aware of the potential for serious allergic reactions to peanuts and tree nuts for decades. Along with a general rise in all allergic diseases in the past 20-30 years there has been an increase in serious reactions like anaphylaxis to peanut. It's caught the attention of the media & the public. Since neither people nor peanuts have changed it may be an environmental change.

Not new but growing: Peanut allergy has been around for decades, but has increased dramatically over the past 10 yrs or so.