Food allergy is the body’s immune system reaction to certain foods. It is most common in babies and children, but it can appear at any age. In fact, you can develop allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problem.

• Studies show that about 8 percent of children and 2 percent of adults have food allergy.
• Most food allergies are caused by nuts, cow’s milk, eggs, soy, fish, and shellfish.
• Children usually outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, soybean products, and wheat. But people usually do not outgrow allergies to nuts, fish, and shellfish.
• Some adults have trouble digesting the sugar in milk. This is called lactose intolerance. It is not a true allergy.
• People allergic to a certain food may also have a reaction to related foods such as allergy to a specific nut may also produce cross-reactivity to other nuts or those allergic to shrimp may react to crab and lobster.
• Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Not all reactions will be similar – a food that triggered mild symptoms at one time may cause more serious reactions at another time.
• Food allergy can be fatal if it is severe enough to cause a reaction called anaphylaxis which makes it hard for a person to breathe. A person having an anaphylaxis should be taken to the hospital immediately.
• The best way to prevent food allergy is to avoid it. If you have a food allergy, you must read the labels on all the foods you eat. Your doctor can help you learn how to keep from eating the wrong foods.