Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body's immune system. Allergic reactions to food can sometimes cause serious illness and death. Tree nuts and peanuts are the leading causes of deadly allergic reactions called anaphylaxis.
In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include
- Fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts, such as walnuts
- Eggs
Problem foods for children are eggs, milk (especially in infants and young children) and peanuts.
Sometimes a reaction to food is not an allergy. It is often a reaction called "food intolerance". Your immune system does not cause the symptoms of food intolerance. However, these symptoms can look and feel like those of a food allergy.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Food Allergies and Reactions
(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - Links to PDF - http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/easy_reader/food.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/easy_reader/food_spanish.pdf -
Food Allergies: Just the Facts(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/allergies/basics/340.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/allergies/basics/340.printerview.html
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Food Allergy
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/default.htm
- Food Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/food-allergy/DS00082/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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Tips to Remember: Food Allergy(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/foodallergy.stm
Also available in Spanish http://www.aaaai.org/espanol/tips/alergias_a_los_alimentos.stm
- FDA Mulls Changes to Allergy Labeling on Foods(09/16/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69345.html
- Allergic Reactions Often Triggered by Nuts in Kids(08/27/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68593.html
- Food Allergy Action Plan Can Keep Kids from Harm(08/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68518.html
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NIAID Announces Grants to Stimulate Food Allergy Research(06/30/2008, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2008/niaid-30.htm
- More News on Food Allergy http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_f.html#foodallergy
- Allergy Skin Tests(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/allergy-tests/MY00131/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Allergy Testing(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/allergy/test.html
- Elimination Diet and Food Challenge Test(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/allergy_testing/hic_elimination_diet_and_food_challenge_test.aspx
- Hidden Sources of Food Allergens(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/food-allergies/AA00058/METHOD=print
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Common Food Allergens: Tips for Managing a Food Allergy(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) - http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/index.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.foodallergy.org/Spanish/alergenos.html
- Egg, Milk or Wheat Allergies: What to Avoid(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/7945/8216/7786.html?d=dmtContent
- Anaphylaxis: Frequently Asked Questions(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) - http://www.foodallergy.org/anaphylaxis/index.html
- Egg Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/egg-allergy/DS01021/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Milk Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/milk-allergy/DS01008/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Peanut Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/peanut-allergy/DS00710/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Soy Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/soy-allergy/DS00970/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Flying with a Peanut Allergy(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) - http://www.foodallergy.org/Advocacy/airlines.html
- Food Allergy: Can It Develop Later in Life?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/food-allergy/AN00179/METHOD=print
- Problem Foods: Is It an Allergy or Intolerance?(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/allergies/hic_problem_foods_is_it_an_allergy_or_intolerance.aspx
- Sulfite Sensitivity(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - http://www.aaaai.org/members/allied_health/articlesofinterest/sulfite.stm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Food Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Food+Hypersensitivity%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Milk Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Milk+Hypersensitivity%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Nut Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Nut+Hypersensitivity%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Peanut Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Peanut+Hypersensitivity%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Tolerance to extensively heated milk in children with cow's milk... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18620743&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Food allergies: what you should know. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18619077&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Food allergies: detection and management. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18619076&tool=MedlinePlus
- Food Allergy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=food+hypersensitivity[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Allergy-Immunology Glossary(American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) - http://www.acaai.org/public/glossary/
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Find an Allergist: Search(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - http://www.aaaai.org/physref/
Also available in Spanish http://www.aaaai.org/physref/?espanol=yes
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology - http://www.aaaai.org/
- Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network - http://www.foodallergy.org/
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- Food Labeling(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) - http://www.foodallergy.org/Advocacy/labeling.html
- Egg Allergy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/diets/egg_allergy.html
- Food Allergies(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/food_allergies.html
- Milk Allergy in Infants(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/milk_allergy.html
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Nut and Peanut Allergy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/nut_allergy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/comunes/nut_allergy_esp.html
- School Guidelines for Managing Students with Food Allergies(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) - Links to PDF - http://www.foodallergy.org/school/SchoolGuidelines.pdf
- Egg Allergy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/egg_allergy.html
- Food Allergies(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/food_allergies.html
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Milk Allergy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/milk_allergy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/nutricion/milk_allergy_esp.html
- Nut and Peanut Allergy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/nut_allergy.html
- My Family Has Food Allergies. How Does This Affect Breastfeeding?(La Leche League International) - http://www.llli.org//FAQ/allergies.html
- Allergy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html
- Lactose Intolerance - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lactoseintolerance.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Food Allergy is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/