Food Allergy

  • A woman with dark hair speaks in front of a textured wall. The text beside her reads: "Julie Wang, MD, FACAAI, ACAAI Food Allergy Committee Member, Professor at The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, Member, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

    Ask the Allergist: What Is the Peanut Patch?

    Dr. Julie Wang answers the Ask the Allergist question: what should a peanut-allergic patient expect when considering the peanut patch? Is it safe?

  • Students sitting at desks in a classroom, focused on their work. A boy in the foreground is smiling at the camera, wearing a pink polo shirt. Other students are reading and writing, with a bright, open space in the background.

    High School Students Talk: Food Allergy

    Watch this video from SOAAR in Chicago to remind you and your teen how to manage food allergies safely in high school.

  • A person wearing a gray top is clutching their chest, seemingly in discomfort or experiencing difficulty breathing, possibly due to anaphylaxis. Their face is partly visible, and their posture suggests concern.

    The Asthma-Food Allergy Connection

    Asthma and food allergy symptoms often overlap. Here is what you need to know.

  • Woman standing in the aisle of the supermarket, reading the food label on a pre-made sandwich. She's checking for food allergens.

    More Than Words: Helping Teens with Food Allergies

    Learn some parenting tips for coaching teenagers through tricky situations when your teen has food allergies.

  • A person with curly hair, wearing a green shirt and blue jeans, sits comfortably on a gray couch in a bright room. The walls are adorned with framed pictures and decorative branches in a vase.

    Allergy & Asthma Network Partners with DBV Technologies and Actress Tia Mowry to Address Challenges With Peanut Allergy

    Tia Mowry, actress, online influencer and peanut allergy mom, is working with the Talking Peanut Allergy campaign to help shed light on the hidden…

  • Image of a refrigerator shelf containing eggs, a red bell pepper, beverages, and fruits. The text "Ask the Allergist" is prominently displayed over the image.

    Ask the Allergist: Outgrowing a Food Allergy

    Dr. Todd Marh answers the Ask the Allergist question: how do allergists determine if a child has outgrown a food allergen? Is testing safe…

  • A smiling woman and a young boy sitting in airplane seats. They are leaning toward each other with a drink and a small container on the tray table in front of them. The interior of the plane is visible in the background.

    Taking Flight: Why Epi Auto-Injectors Are Critical on Airlines

    One family’s terrifying allergy experience on a plane takes them to Capitol Hill as advocates.

  • A group of excited children with backpacks run down a school hallway lined with lockers. They are laughing and appear happy as they head towards the camera.

    Kids Talk Video: Food Allergies In Elementary School

    Listen to children in grades 4-7 as they discuss how they manage and deal with food allergies in this video.

  • A young boy in a white shirt stares anxiously at a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce, worried about possible food allergies. He sits at a glass table with a glass of water nearby, set against a plain gray background.

    Kids Talk Video: Food Allergies In Early Childhood

    Listen to children in kindergarten to third grade as they discuss how they manage food allergies.

  • Composition with common food allergens including egg, milk, soya, peanuts, hazelnut, fish, seafood and wheat flour

    Oral Food Challenges: What Parents Need to Know

    The heartbreaking news that a 3-year-old Alabama boy died during an oral food challenge test last July has shaken the food allergy community.

  • Three smiling boys in white shirts stand together, each with a backpack. The boy in the middle has his arms around the others, showcasing friendship and excitement, against a plain white background.

    Back to School With Confidence: How to Prevent Bullying

    Learn how to empower and prevent children with asthma and food allergies from bullying.

  • A group of five friends walking outdoors, smiling and casually dressed. Two men and two women have their arms around each other, while one woman covers her face playfully. They are on a paved path with grassy areas and trees in the background.

    Going to College With Food and Latex Allergies

    Allergy & Asthma Network offers the tips on preparing for college life with life-threatening allergies.

All About

Food Allergy

Food allergies affect 32 million people in the United States, including 13% of children. They occur when the body’s immune system perceives a threat from proteins in food and overreacts to neutralize it. If you have a family history of food allergies, asthma, eczema or pollen allergies, you may be at higher risk for developing food allergy. Food allergies should not be confused with intolerance to food; food allergies can be life-threatening. The most common food allergens are peanut, milk, egg, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. Food allergies require vigilance, especially for children. Small children need careful supervision as they are likely to put any food or object into their mouth; even food left out for a pet can have allergens like dairy, wheat, soy, peanuts, egg or shellfish. Children with severe allergies need to have an emergency plan in place for daycare, school and friends’ homes. Medication and permission forms to administer it, prescriptions, and meetings to discuss accommodations and care should be in place anywhere children are out of their parents’ care. Up to 30% of eczema patients will develop reactions to certain foods, including gastrointestinal distress, respiratory symptoms like wheezing, difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis, or skin reactions like itching, swelling, and hives. Sometimes eliminating foods from a patient’s diet can improve eczema symptoms, so working with an allergist is key. Skin tests, blood tests and oral food challenges can help identify food allergens. Immunotherapy is emerging as a treatment option for certain food allergens. People with food allergies need to use caution when dining out. Even getting coffee can pose a risk of cross-contamination with milk and its alternatives. Keeping your order as simple as possible and communicating about the risks you face are all key. Personal “chef cards” that list allergens and severity of reactions, and the need for vigilance in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination, are recommended when dining out. Chef cards provide the staff with a visual cue to remember the information and avoid potentially fatal mistakes.