About Food Allergies

If your child has a food allergy, his or her immune system overreacts to a food. This is caused by an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is found in people with allergies. A food allergy is more likely to develop in someone who has family members with allergies.

The most common food allergens are:

Peanuts

Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. Peanuts can cause a severe, potentially fatal, allergic reaction: anaphylaxis.

Tree Nuts

Tree nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children and adults. Tree nuts can cause a severe, potentially fatal, allergic reaction: anaphylaxis.

Dairy

Dairy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children. Symptoms of a milk allergy reaction can range from mild, such as hives, to severe, such as anaphylaxis.

Eggs

Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, second only to milk allergy.

Soybeans

Soybeans are a member of the legume family, which include plant species that bear seed pods that split upon ripening. Some examples of other legumes include beans, peas, lentils and peanut.

Wheat

Wheat allergy is most common in children, and is usually outgrown before reaching adulthood, often by age three. Symptoms of a wheat allergy reaction can range from mild, such as hives, to severe, such as anaphylaxis.

Shellfish and Finned Fish

Shellfish and finned fish can cause severe allergic reactions. This allergy usually is life-long. Approximately 60 percent of people with shellfish allergy experienced their first allergic reaction as adults. Shrimp, crab and lobster cause most shellfish allergies.

Sesame Seeds

Sesame is a food allergy on the rise. Symptoms of a sesame allergy reaction can range from mild, such as hives, to severe, such as anaphylaxis.