Food Allergy Basics
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Allergic reactions to food occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks harmless food proteins. The allergic individual’s immune system makes IgE antibodies, special proteins that can detect particular food proteins, that sit on the surface of allergy cells found throughout the body. Like a radar, these IgE antibodies detect the food and alert the cell to pour out chemicals, such as histamines, that result in the allergic symptoms.
Symptoms of food allergy affect the skin (i.e. hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, and face), respiratory system (i.e. shortness of breath, wheezing), and the gastrointestinal tract (i.e. abdominal pain, vomiting), and even cause heart failure. If left untreated, these symptoms can be fatal.
Between 6 and 7 million Americans (2 to 2.5 percent) are estimated to suffer from food allergy.
In the U.S., an estimated 2 million school-age children (3 percent) suffer from food allergy.
There are eight foods that account for 90 percent of allergic reactions: peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat.
Peanuts are the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by tree nuts, shellfish, fish, and eggs.
An estimated 3 million Americans (1.1 percent) are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts.
In adults, the majority of allergic reactions involve peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.
In school-age children, the majority of allergic reactions involve peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat.
Currently, there is no cure for food allergy. Avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction to food.
Epinephrine is the medication of choice for controlling severe allergic reactions to food.
Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting, accounting for an estimated 30,000 emergency room visits each year.
It is estimated that between 150-200 people die each year from food-allergy induced anaphylaxis-a severe allergic reaction.
Want to learn more?
Visit our page of frequently asked questions about food allergies, or visit our list of common myths about food allergens,