The prevalence of food allergies is increasing, affecting approximately 6% of adults and 8% of children. One study indicates that almost 11% of adults in the US have a food allergy. While any food can cause an allergic reaction, most food allergies stem from a few foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that these foods are responsible for 90% of all food allergic reactions in the US. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of these most frequent food allergies.
What Is a Food Allergy?
Food allergy is a medical condition that results from a specific immune response to certain foods. The immune system misidentifies specific proteins in the food as harmful, and in response, the body releases chemicals such as histamine, which causes inflammation. Even trace amounts of the allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in individuals with food allergies.
Cow’s Milk
A cow milk allergy is a common food allergy that affects infants and young children but can also develop in adults. Symptoms of a cow milk allergy range from mild to severe and appear within minutes to hours after consumption. Common symptoms include hives, wheezing, rash, coughing, runny nose, stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, occurs. This leads to difficulty in breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.
Eggs
An egg allergy is a food allergy in which the body’s immune system overreacts to proteins found in eggs. They’re more common in kids than adults; most children outgrow the allergy by age five. However, some people may have an egg allergy for their entire life. People with an egg allergy must avoid consuming any food or product that contains eggs, including baked goods, certain sauces, and processed foods.
Tree Nuts
Tree nuts include a variety of nuts, such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, etc. Exposure to even small amounts of these nuts may trigger a reaction in people with tree nut allergies.
Allergic reactions can be mild, severe, and sometimes even life-threatening. Symptoms of a tree nut allergy include hives, swelling of the face, throat, or mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. Consuming tree nuts can lead to anaphylaxis, a potentially deadly allergic reaction.
Tree nut allergies are usually lifelong and more common in children than adults. People with other types of allergies, such as peanut or soy, are at a higher risk of developing a tree nut allergy.
