Facts about food allergies: answers to common questions
What are food allergies? What causes them?
The job of the body’s immune system is to identify and destroy germs (such as bacteria or viruses) that make you sick. A food allergy happens when your immune system overreacts to a food protein, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Food allergy may occur in response to any food, and many of those with food allergies are allergic to more than one food. Food allergies may start in childhood or as an adult and are often hereditary.
What happens if someone ingests a food they are allergic to?
The reactions experienced by food allergic individuals when they ingest an allergen is varied. Food allergy reactions can vary unpredictably from mild to severe. The more mild symptoms they can cause are:
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eczema
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hives
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flushed skin or rash
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tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
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face, tongue, or lip swelling
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vomiting and/or diarrhea
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migraines with what is commonly referred to as “brain fog”
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abdominal cramps
For some though, food allergy reactions progress to severe anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis may start out as relatively mild. However, if treatment is not prompt, symptoms can become life-threatening in only a short amount of time.
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This can lead to:
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swelling of the throat and vocal cords
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constricted airways in the lungs
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difficulty breathing with coughing or wheezing
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severe lowering of blood pressure and shock (“anaphylactic shock”)
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suffocation by swelling of the throat and larynx
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dizziness and/or lightheadedness
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loss of consciousness
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These different reactions may all occur to the same person, with different allergens prompting different reactions. However, even if a person has never experienced a life-threatening reaction to an allergen before, the type of reaction someone experiences when ingesting said allergen may change over time and could become life-threatening at any time. It is important to understand that a mild allergic reaction does not always mean the allergy is mild. Any allergic reaction has potential to lead to anaphylaxis, and all food allergies are potentially life-threatening. Always take food allergies and those who have them, seriously.
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Allergic individuals must monitor symptoms and seek medical care if needed. If you have a known food allergy and start having symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop eating the food immediately and evaluate the need for emergency treatment (including but not limited to, use of Epinephrine and Benadryl). Even if the symptoms subside completely after treatment, it is still important to seek professional medical attention following the reaction as the reaction may reoccur.
How common are they?
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Food allergies affect 32 million people in the U.S., with one in every 13 children and one in every 10 adults experiencing a food allergy. In the U.S., the 8 most common food allergens are milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish, which make up over 90% of food allergic reactions. About 40% of children who have food allergies are allergic to more than one food.
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According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, food allergy reactions resulted in over 7 million emergency room visits between 2001 and 2005, meaning an average of 203,000 visits every year, with anaphylaxis accounting for over 90,000 visits every year. In other words, a food allergy reaction sends an American adult or child to the ER every 3 minutes, with anaphylaxis specific visits occurring every 6 minutes.
Does food intolerance = food allergy?
Food allergies are not the same as food intolerances, and food allergy symptoms overlap with symptoms of other medical conditions. It is therefore important to have your food allergy confirmed by an appropriate evaluation with an allergist.
Do the allergies go away?
Some children do grow out of their allergies. If you suspect you may have outgrown an allergy you were diagnosed with as a child, it is important to test this in a safe environment. This means getting a blood test to determine reactivity and potentially a food trial, where you try small bits of that food in the allergist’s office where they can monitor you and provide immediate medical assistance should a reaction occur.
How do I know if I need to get tested for food allergies?
If you are experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction that you suspect was a result of a food, keep a record of when these reactions occur, with information that includes any food you consumed recently prior to the reaction. You can then bring this information to your doctor and it will help them determine what allergies to test you for.
How do you treat it and is there a cure?
Currently, there is no cure for food allergies. There are two main ways that they are treated:
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Induced tolerance
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This is when progressively larger quantities of a food you are allergic to (starting with a miniscule amount) are given to you under the careful supervision of your doctor. The goal of this is to teach your body not to react to the food as strongly. ​
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Importantly, while this may reduce the strength of your reaction in the case of an accidental exposure to your allergen, it may not get rid of the reaction completely. This means that the following second treatment may still be necessary.​
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Food allergen avoidance ​
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Always read food labels.
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To learn more about how to do this click here: ​
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Avoid foods that you are allergic to.
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Learn to recognize the early symptoms of an allergic reaction
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Know what to do in case an allergic reaction occurs.
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Plan to have ready access to the appropriate emergency treatment (epinephrine, Benadryl, etc.) and medical care.
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want to learn more? - websites and social media resources
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FARE- food allergy reserach and education
"FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission to improve the quality of life and health of those with food allergies through transformative research, education, and advocacy. FARE has committed almost $190MM to support food allergy research, education, and advocacy, and has provided a voice for the community, advocating on behalf of the 33 million Americans living with life-threatening food allergies." - FARE website
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To visit their website, click the "More Info" button below!
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red sneakers for Oakley
"Red Sneakers for Oakley (RSFO) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established in 2016 after 11 year old Oakley Debbs tragically passed away due to an anaphylactic allergic reaction. RSFO is grounded in the sense that education is desperately needed between allergists, hospitals, first-responders, parents, schools, and the general public. The foundation has dedicated its resources to education and advocacy for food allergy awareness to save lives across the globe." - RSFO website
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To visit their website and learn more about Oakley's story and the programs RSFO offers, click the "More Info" button below!
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The asthma and allergies foundation of America
"The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1953, is the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies, and the oldest asthma and allergy patient group in the world. Asthma and allergies affect most people in the United States in some way. In 1953, three allergists started AAFA to raise money for education and research. Now, AAFA also offers resources and advocacy for all those affected, as well as health care providers and policymakers. Understanding that asthma and allergies can be very challenging to manage, our goal is to help people live life without limits."
- AAFA website
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To visit their website, click the "More Info" button below!