Diet and Health Guidelines for Food
Allergies
Presented by
Janice Hermann, PhD, RD/LD
OCES Adult and Older Adult Nutrition Specialist
Who Has Food Allergies
3-5% of young children are diagnosed with a
food allergy
Most childhood food allergies appear early in life
and are usually outgrown
1-2% of the adult population have a food
allergy
Who Has Food Allergies
Although anyone can develop a food allergy,
the ability to become allergic tends to be
inherited
Many people who have food allergies also
have asthma, or show sensitivities to inhaled
allergens such as dust, pollen and animal
dander
What Is A Food Allergy
A food allergy is an adverse reaction to a food
or food component that involves the immune
system
A food allergen is the part of a food to which
a person is allergic
Often an incompletely digested protein
What Happens With A Food Allergy
When someone eats a food they are allergic
to, the food allergen stimulates the immune
system to release antibodies
The antibodies cause body cells to release
other substances, which cause allergic
reactions
Food Allergy Symptoms
Allergic reactions can be immediate or
delayed
Allergic reactions to foods usually occur
within minutes to 24 hours after eating an
offending food
In very sensitive people, even touching or
inhaling the offending food may produce an
allergic reaction
Food Allergy Symptoms
Food allergy reactions vary from person to
person, as well as within the same person
The same food can produce totally different
symptoms in different people, as well as
varying symptoms within the same person
Food Allergy Symptoms
Food allergy symptoms usually fall into three
areas:
Skin Reactions
Nose, Throat and Lung Reactions
Stomach and Intestinal Reactions
Skin Reactions
Types of reactions
Swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat
Hives
Rashes
Itching
Skin redness
With oral allergy syndrome
Hives, swelling and itching confined to the mouth
and throat and usually result after consumption of
raw fruits and vegetables
Nose, Throat and Lung Reactions
Types of reactions
Sneezing
Nasal congestion
Runny nose
Chronic cough
Shortness of breath or other breathing difficulties
such as asthma
Stomach and Intestinal Reactions
Types of reactions
Nausea
Abdominal pain and bloating
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Cramping
Gas
Severe Allergy Reactions
Most food allergic reactions are mild, but a
small number of food-allergic individuals have
severe reactions that can be life-threatening
Anaphylaxis is rare, but can be a possibly fatal
food allergy reaction
Anaphylaxis
Different parts of the body may experience
food allergy reactions at the same time
Reactions can progress rapidly and may
include:
Itching Breathing difficulties
Hives Lowered blood pressure
Sweating Unconsciousness
Throat swelling Even death
Have A Plan
People who have severe allergic reactions
need to recognize early symptoms and have a
plan for handling emergency situations
May carry epinephrine for self-injection and
warning medical alter bracelets or necklaces
in case they become unconscious
Importance of Diagnosis
Properly diagnosing food allergies is
important
Proper diagnosis can help avoid unnecessary
dietary restrictions
Parents may limit their children’s food intakes
unnecessarily unless properly diagnosed
Proper diagnosis can also help avoid accidental
exposure to allergens
Proper Diagnosis
Diagnosis requires a thorough medical history,
physical examination, and laboratory tests
Having symptoms is not a diagnosis
Symptoms exactly like those of an allergy many
not be caused by one
Proper Diagnosis
Methods for diagnosis
Skin-prick test
Antibody blood testing
Oral Food Challenges
Elimination Diets
RAST or ELISA
Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) or enzyme-
linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are
reliable skin-prick testing and antibody blood
testing for diagnosing allergies
Proper Diagnosis
Food changes and elimination tests should be
conducted only under medical supervision
Unreliable Methods
Two unreliable methods for diagnosing food
allergies are cytotoxic testing and symptom
provocation testing, where a dose of the food
extract is placed under the tongue or injected
Most Common Food Allergies
Food allergies can occur to almost any food,
but most allergic reactions are caused by a
limited number of foods
milk shellfish
eggs soy
wheat peanuts
fish tree nuts like walnuts
Living With A Food Allergy
The only proven treatment for a food allergy
is to avoid the offending food
An elimination diet must be carefully
developed and be personalized to take into
account the ability of an individual to tolerate
an allergic food
Living With A Food Allergy
Using an elimination diet for 1-2 years may
promote outgrowing a food allergy
Some food allergies, particularly to peanuts,
nuts, fish and shellfish can last a lifetime
Living With A Food Allergy
No drugs are available to treat food allergies
Allergy shots, which are useful in
desensitizing some people to pollen and
other environmental allergens, are not
recommended to treat food allergies and may
be dangerous
Living With A Food Allergy
People with food allergies need to learn
about food composition and how to read
labels
Many foods may contain the allergen
Many terms used to describe food components
Milk Allergy
Milk and milk products are a common
ingredient in many foods so food labels need
to be checked carefully
Milk Allergy
Foods containing milk or milk products
Milk
Acidophilus, buttermilk, chocolate milk, evaporated milk,
condensed milk, sweetened condensed milk, malted milk,
*Goat’s milk protein similar to cow’s milk protein, may
cause similar symptoms, not a recommended substitute
Cheese
Ice cream
Sherbet
Yogurt
Custard
Pudding
Eggnog
Milk Allergy
Foods containing milk or milk products
Cream, half & half cream, light cream, whipping
cream
Sour cream, sour cream solids, sour cream
dressing
Butter, butter oil, butter fat, artificial butter flavor
Nougat
Mellorine
Curds
Semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate
Caramel, creamed, carob candies
Milk Allergy
Terms for milk products
Casein
Rennet casein
Amonium caseinate
Calcium caseinate
Magnesium caseinate
Potassium caseinate
Sodium caseinate
Casein hydrolysate
Milk protein hydrolysates
Protein hydrolysate
Milk Allergy
Terms for milk products
Lactose
Lactablumin
Lactalbumin phosphate
Lactoglobulin
Lactulose
Milk protein
Whey
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein hydrolysate
Sweet whey
Delactosed whey
Milk Allergy
Ingredients potentially containing milk or milk
products
Caramel flavoring
Bavarian cream flavoring
Coconut cream flavoring
Brown sugar flavoring
Butter flavoring
Natural flavoring
Simplesse®
Egg Allergy
Eggs and egg proteins are common ingredient
in many foods so food labels need to be
checked carefully
Because flu vaccines are prepared using egg
embryos, people with egg allergies need to
check with their physicians before being
vaccinated
Egg Allergy
Eggs or foods containing egg products
Eggs, egg white, egg yolk
Dried eggs, frozen eggs, powdered eggs, egg solids
Egg substitutes
Imitation egg product
Béarnaise sauce
Hollandaise sauce
Eggnog
Mayonnaise
Meringue
Simplesse®
Egg Allergy
Terms for egg or egg products
Albumin
Apovitellin
Avidin
Egg lecithin
Flavoprotein
Globulin
Livetin
Lysozyme
Ovalbumin, conalbumin
Ovomucin
Wheat Allergy
Wheat is a common ingredient in many foods
so food labels need to be checked carefully
Wheat Allergy
Wheat or wheat products
Atta wheat flour
Bal ahar
Bread flour
Bulgur
Cake flour
Cereal extract
Courscous
Cracked wheat
Durum
Durum flour
Wheat Allergy
Wheat or wheat products
Enriched flour
Farina
High protein flour
Kamut flour
Laubina
Leche alim
Malted cereals
Minchin
Multi grain breads
Multi grain flours
Wheat Allergy
Wheat or wheat products
Puffed wheat
Red wheat flakes
Rolled wheat
Semolina
Shredded wheat
Soft wheat flour
Spelt
SuperArmine
Triticale
Vital gluten
Wheat Allergy
Wheat or wheat products
Vitalia macaroni
Wheat protein powder
Wheat bran
Wheat germ
Wheat gluten
Wheat meal
Wheat pasta
Wheat protein
Wheat starch
Wheat tempeh
Wheat Allergy
Wheat or wheat products
White flour
Whole wheat berries
Whole wheat flour
Winter wheat flour
Wheat Allergy
Ingredients potentially made from wheat
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Vegetable starch
Starch
Gelatinized starch
Modified starch
Modified food starch
Vegetable gum
Peanut Allergy
Some people with peanut allergies have
severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, to the
smallest quantities of peanuts
Although peanut allergy is not ordinarily
associated with other nut allergies, people
may be advised to avoid all nuts due to
potential cross-contamination
Peanut Allergy
Peanuts, peanut products, foods containing
peanuts
Beer nuts
Eggrolls
Ground nuts
High protein food
Hydrolyzed plant protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Marzipan
Mixed nuts
Nougat
Peanut Allergy
Peanuts or peanut products
Peanuts
Peanut flour
Peanut soup
Peanut butter
Peanut oil
Peanut flakes
Peanut Allergy
Products that may contain peanuts
Pie crusts
Cheese cake crusts
Chocolate candy
Ice cream
Baked goods
Sauces
Chili
Candy