About one in 10 adults and one in 13 children have food allergies, or two children in every classroom. My niece is one of those two children who has a food allergy. She’s allergic to peanuts. Immediately after eating something with peanuts, including peanut oil, she starts coughing and gagging. While reactions to food can be serious, and even life-threatening, it’s important to know the facts and what you can do to help reduce the risk of a loved one.
Common Food Allergies
There are now 9 foods responsible for 90% of all food allergies. The top 9 food allergens are:
- milk
- eggs
- peanuts
- soy
- fish
- wheat
- tree nuts
- shellfish
- sesame
Common food allergy symptoms
- itching or swelling of the mouth, throat, face, or skin
- trouble breathing
- stomach pain
- diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- hives
- repetitive cough
- dizziness or feeling faint
To confirm a food allergy and avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions, a diagnosis should be made by a medical doctor or allergist. There are a few tests to diagnose a food allergy.
Food Allergy Tests
- Skin Prick Test
- Blood Test (less accurate than skin prick tests)
- Oral Food Challenge (gold standard)
Food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy. Food intolerance does not trigger the immune system and is not life-threatening, although it may share similar symptoms.
Once a medical doctor or allergist has tested and confirmed food allergies, you need to be extremely careful about avoiding the offending food(s). A registered dietitian nutritionist can assist with creating a healthy eating pattern.
Food Allergy Sources
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
American College of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology (ACAAI)
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
Nutritionally Yours,
Jerlyn
