Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. Severe reactions can be life-threatening. For example, being allergic to milk is different from not being able to digest it properly because of lactose intolerance.
Some people come from families where allergies are common — not necessarily food allergies, but perhaps hay fever, asthma, or hives. When both of your parents have allergies, you’re more likely to have food allergies than if only one parent has allergies
Interestingly, although it’s possible for any food to cause an allergy, most food allergies are caused by just nine foods. While any food can cause an adverse reaction, nine (9) types of food account for about 90 percent of all reactions:
- Eggs
- Milk and Dairy
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Wheat
- Soy
- Sesame
Sesame is the 9th most common food allergen and is found in many popular dishes, including hummus, under the name “tahini.” According to the FDA, “Under the FASTER Act of 2021, sesame is being added as the 9th major food allergen effective January 1, 2023. Until that time, manufacturers do not have to list it as an allergen, although in most cases it must appear in the ingredient statement. An exception is when sesame is part of a natural flavoring or spice.”
Symptoms of Food allergy
This may involve the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system and the respiratory tract. They can surface in one or more of the following ways:
- Vomiting and/or stomach cramps
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Repetitive cough
- Shock or circulatory collapse
- Tight, hoarse throat; trouble swallowing
- Swelling of the tongue, affecting the ability to talk or breathe
- Weak pulse
- Pale or blue coloring of skin
- Dizziness or feeling faint
Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that can impair breathing and send the body into shock; reactions may simultaneously affect different parts of the body (for example, a stomachache accompanied by a rash)
Think You Have a Food Allergy?
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell food allergies and food intolerances apart. If you suspect you have a food allergy, it’s important to speak to your doctor. To find out whether you have an allergy or an intolerance, your doctor will probably carry out a number of diagnostic tests .
These include:
- Dietary review: A detailed review of foods eaten, including timing and symptoms.
- Skin prick testing: A small amount of food is “pricked” into the skin using a tiny needle. The skin is then monitored for a reaction.
- Oral food challenges: The problem food is eaten in a controlled environment under medical supervision in gradually increasing amounts.
- Blood tests: In some circumstances, blood will be drawn and the level of IgE antibodies measured.
If you are allergic to a food, your doctor will advise you on how to manage it. Your doctor may also refer you to a registered dietitian to help with managing your diet.
Treatment for Food Allergies
The main way to deal with food allergies is to avoid them. For highly allergic people, even tiny amounts of an allergen (as little as 1/44,000 of a peanut kernel) can trigger a reaction. Less-sensitive people may be able to have small amounts of a food that they’re allergic to.
If you’ve identified the food, you have to stop eating it. That may mean reading long, detailed ingredient lists because many allergy-triggering foods are in things you wouldn’t expect to find them in. Peanuts, for example, may be included for protein, and eggs are in some salad dressings. At restaurants, you might have to ask about the ingredients that are in specific dishes or in the kitchen.
Even people who are very careful can make a mistake, so if you have severe food allergies, you must be prepared to treat an accidental exposure. If you’ve had anaphylactic reactions to a food, you should wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. And you should carry two auto-injectors of epinephrine (Auvi-Q, EpiPen, Symjepi) and be ready to use them if you think a reaction is starting. Mild symptoms such as tingling in your mouth and throat or an upset stomach might not be an allergic reaction, but you should still give yourself an injection. It won’t hurt, and it could save your life. Then call or get a ride to the emergency room.
Parents and caregivers should protect children from their trigger foods and know what to do if the child eats one. Schools should have plans in place to address any related emergency. Children aged 4 to 17 with a severe peanut allergy could benefit from the newly approved drug Palforzia, which may help lessen a severe reaction, although they should still avoid peanuts.
