No Slide Title

							• The difference between a food allergy and a food
  intolerance

• The common symptoms of food allergies

• What parents should do if they suspect their child
  has food allergies

• How to use the Food Guide Pyramid to provide
  proper nutrition for an allergic child

• How to read labels to detect allergenic foods
         Who has food allergies?
• 30% of the U.S. population believe they have food
  allergies.

• Fewer than 6% of all children have true food
  allergies.

• Only 1-2% of the adult population have true food
  allergies.
             What is a true food allergy?
   A true food allergy occurs if the body’s immune system
           overreacts when a certain food is eaten.
Symptoms:
• swelling lips, tongue, throat   • coughing and wheezing

• rashes                          • difficulty in breathing
• itchy skin and/or eyes          • stomach cramps
• sneezing/runny nose             • vomiting and/or diarrhea


    Severe food allergies can be fatal if not treated promptly.
        Common allergy producing foods:

•   cow’s milk         • soy
•   eggs               • fish
•   peanuts            • shellfish
•   tree nuts             •   shrimp
    •    walnuts          •   lobster
    •    almonds          •   crab
    •    pecans           •   oysters
    •    cashews       • corn
    •    hazel nuts    • citrus
         Brazil nuts
    •
                       • wheat
           What is a food intolerance?
    A food intolerance mimics a food allergy but does not
       cause a reaction by the body’s immune system.

Example:
Lactose intolerance
   • not an immune system response
   • unable to digest the sugar in milk
   • symptoms similar to allergy
       • stomach-ache
       • diarrhea
        Food Allergies in Young Infants

Watch for
  •   Eight or more watery stools

  •   Bloody diarrhea

  •   Vomiting after meals

  •   Redness on cheeks and or anus
         How can you tell if the symptoms
                  are serious?
They occur 2-30 minutes after eating
   •   May be anaphylaxis


Symptoms:
   •   Swelling of the throat
   •   Difficulty breathing
   •   Sweating
   •   Vomiting


             Seek emergency assistance!
              Foods most likely to trigger
                  a severe reaction

Peanuts                        Shellfish
Tree nuts                         •   shrimp
  (in order of frequency):        •   oysters
   •   walnut                     •   lobster
   •   almond                     •   crab
   •   pecan                   Eggs
   •   cashew
   •   hazel nut
   •   Brazil nut
Does diet during pregnancy cause allergies
                in a baby?
It may.
   •   A mom with food allergies needs to avoid severe
       allergic reactions.

   •   If mom can’t eat certain foods, she needs adequate
       substitutes.
Does diet during breastfeeding affect baby?

• It may

• Avoid allergenic foods
        To prevent or delay food allergies:


• Breastfeed for as long as possible
   •   at least one year is best

• Delay introducing solid foods
   •   wait until six months old
   •   wait until 12 months for allergenic foods
   •   wait longer for eggs and peanut butter

• Introduce new foods one at a time
 What to do if your baby has food allergies

• Provide a varied and balanced diet that excludes
  the problem food(s).

• Provide nutritious alternatives.
   •   Try foods from the same food group as problem food
   •   Consult a dietitian
     If your baby is allergic to cow’s milk:

• Give breast milk or milk-free iron-fortified infant
  formula for the first year.

• After the first year, offer a soy milk substitute that
  is calcium-fortified.

• Try reintroducing milk when child is older.
    If your baby is allergic to soy and cow’s
             milk, make sure he gets:
• An extra source of protein and riboflavin
   • Meat
   • Egg
   • Cooked dried beans
• Another source of calcium
   • Calcium-fortified juice
   • Liquid calcium supplement
• A source of Vitamin D
   • Sunlight
   • Multivitamin and mineral supplement
• An adequate amount of fat

                        Consult a dietitian
  Read food labels to avoid problem foods
Food                   Common ingredients derived from the food
Milk                   Casein
                       Lactoalbumin
                       Lactate solids
                       Whey

Egg                    Albumin

Corn                   Vegetable starch
                       Dextrose
                       Modified food starch


Soy                    Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
                       TVP (textured vegetable protein)
                       Vegetable protein concentrate


Wheat                  Durum
                       Semolina
                    Summary

Food allergies are rare but real for those children
who have them. It is our job as parents to protect
them as best we can and still allow them to live
normal lives.