Awareness of food allergies has grown significantly, in part because of campaigns to educate people and also because of food labeling laws. Also, the number of people, children especially, with food allergies has risen dramatically. The number of children allergic to peanuts doubled between 1997 and 2002, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports. The condition is not one to be taken lightly. In the most severe cases, you can die from an allergic reaction to food.
Common Food Allergens
More than 160 foods and food ingredients are known to cause allergic reactions, but a small group constitutes the majority of food allergies. The eight most common foods to provoke allergic responses are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports. About 90 percent of all allergic food reactions in the U.S. result from exposure to these foods. In some cases, the foods consist of several different items that can cause a reaction. For example, tree nuts includes walnuts, pecans and almonds.
Allergic Reaction Symptoms
Allergic reactions to food range from mild to severe, and symptoms can vary from person to person. When you eat something containing a food you have an allergy to, you can begin to experience symptoms immediately, or you may not notice anything for up to two hours. Common symptoms include a swelling in the mouth and throat, tingling sensation in the mouth, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or hives. The worst reactions involve a significant drop in blood pressure and sometimes loss of consciousness. These reactions -- called anaphylactic shock -- can be deadly if not treated immediately.
Anaphylactic Shock
When a person goes into anaphylaxis as a result of an allergic response, the airways typically swell and become constricted, followed by a large drop in blood pressure and possibly loss of consciousness. Any signs of anaphylactic shock require immediate medical attention or the condition can be deadly. Emergency treatment typically requires an injection of epinephrine, or adrenaline. People with known allergies often carry a device called an Epi-Pen so they can inject themselves in the event of a serious reaction. Most allergic reactions do not involve anaphylaxis, but more than 30,000 emergency room visits each year result from the condition, the FDA reports. In addition, 150 people die each year because of severe food allergy reactions.
Food Labels
Because of the number of people affected by food allergies and the potential seriousness of reactions, the FDA requires that packaged foods with nutritional labels state plainly that the foods contain any of the eight major food allergens. Even foods manufactured in facilities that process any of the eight major food allergens often state this fact on the label so people can prevent reactions resulting from cross-contamination. In addition, the allergens must be clearly on the label, even if they ingredient containing the allergen is not so named. One common example is lecithin, a soy product. Foods containing lecithin must either state, in parenthesis, that lecithin contains soy or must have a bold statement at the end of the ingredient list stating the food contains soy ingredients.
Treatment
The best way to avoid an allergic reaction to a food is to judiciously read food labels and avoid all products containing foods you are allergic to. If you know you have severe food allergies, you should also carry injectable epinephrine with you at all times. When reactions are less severe, common over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines, can help alleviate the itching and swelling that often accompany a reaction. If your children have allergies, know that many outgrow their allergies. For example, 80 percent of children allergic to milk outgrow the allergy by the time they reach 16, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports. Similarly, 68 percent of children allergic to eggs outgrow it by 16. Not as many outgrow a peanut allergy, but about one-fifth of children with the condition outgrow it by age 6.
