Food Allergies

The incidence of food allergies seems to be on the rise and it’s likely that you or someone you know has a food allergy. An allergy is not an intolerance. An intolerance to a food is an inability to digest a particular food resulting in discomfort or an upset belly. A food allergy can be more serious; its onset is sudden and potentially dangerous. The immune system in individuals with a food allergy mistakenly attacks a protein in the food, starting a chain reaction that can have symptoms as mild as a tingling in the mouth to as severe as difficulty breathing and even death. These symptoms can occur in a matter of seconds or take up to two hours.

How do I know if I have an allergy?

If you experience these symptoms while or shortly after eating a food:
• Tingling of the mouth
• Hives
• Abdominal Pain
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin: flushing, itching, inflammation
• Anaphylaxis
• Drop in blood pressure

You may have a food allergy. If it is a life threatening reaction call 911 immediately. If the symptoms are milder, book an appointment with your doctor. Your physician will likely perform a skin prick test or a blood test to determine if an allergy exists. A skin prick test is usually inexpensive and can be done in your doctor’s office. A positive skin prick test does not mean you will have an allergic reaction; the results of the tests are combined with other information, such as a history of symptoms and the results of a food challenge to determine whether a food allergy really exists.

I Have an Allergy, Now What?

Strict avoidance of the allergenic food is the only way to avoid a reaction. There are eight major foods that cause 90% of all allergic reactions: eggs, wheat, shellfish, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and eggs. If you’re allergic to one of these foods, you know to stay away, but what about all the hidden places these foods can be? There can be peanut proteins in chocolate and milk proteins in nougat. If you have ever looked at the ingredients of your favorite foods you can see that there are a dozen or more ingredients and some are hard to identify. Did you know that caseinate is another word for milk protein?

While it’s true that accidental exposure is the major cause of allergic reactions to foods, (approximately 50 percent of people in the United States with food allergies have an allergic reaction due to accidental exposure) a little knowledge can go a long way. Read labels for hidden places these common allergens can be lurking and protect yourself or a loved one from an allergic reaction.