Most common food allergies

A food allergy is an immune response to a food protein. Symptoms can begin soon after eating and may include itching, hives, swelling, vomiting, stomach pain, cough or wheeze. The same food may cause different symptoms on different occasions. A food intolerance is different and does not follow the same immune mechanism, so a careful history helps separate the two.

Stop eating the suspected food and record what was eaten, the amount, timing and symptoms. Do not deliberately re-test a food at home after a concerning reaction. Allergy testing and a clinical history can help identify the trigger. Read ingredient labels, tell restaurants about the allergy and keep an agreed action plan available at home, school or work.

Call emergency services for trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, dizziness, collapse, repeated vomiting or symptoms involving more than one body system. These can be signs of anaphylaxis. Use prescribed emergency medicine according to your action plan while waiting for help, and do not rely on symptoms improving on their own.

Ask whether you need allergy testing, which foods or ingredients to avoid, how to read labels safely and what your emergency treatment plan should contain.