[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Allergies T-Hero Section” module_class=”hero tert” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AAFA-Website_Tertiary_Allergies.jpg” background_position=”top_right” custom_padding=”1%||1%||true|false” global_module=”2217″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” background_horizontal_offset=”0%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Nav Parent Title” module_class=”tert-parent” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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A food allergy occurs when the body\u2019s immune system sees a certain food as harmful and reacts by causing allergic symptoms. Foods that cause allergic reactions are allergens.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” custom_padding=”5px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Nearly 22 million people have food allergies in the U.S. This equals about 6 out of 100 people.1,2\u00a0 <\/sup>About 18 million (7 out of 100) U.S. adults have food allergies.1 <\/sup>About 4 million (5 out of 100) U.S. children have food allergies.2<\/sup><\/p>\n We commonly hear about children with food allergies. But people can develop a food allergy at any age. Many adults develop food allergies even without a prior history of allergies.<\/p>\n There is no cure for food allergies. The only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the food you are allergic to. The good news is with the right steps, you can manage your food allergies and live a full life.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tan Callout Box” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ link_line_height=”1.7em” ul_line_height=”1.7em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” background_color=”#F5EDDF” custom_padding=”4%|4%|4%|4%|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There are\u00a0different types of allergic reactions to foods:<\/p>\n Not all people who react to a certain food have an allergy. They may have a\u00a0food intolerance<\/a>. Examples are lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance or sulfite sensitivity. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Content: Three Basic Principles” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n 1. See an allergist to confirm your food allergy. <\/strong><\/p>\n A food allergy can affect your quality of life. A limited diet can be challenging and stressful. And if you have multiple food allergies, you may also need to make sure you are getting the right nutrition. This is why it\u2019s important to get an accurate diagnosis if you think you have a food allergy.<\/p>\n If you think you have a food allergy, see a board-certified allergist if possible. They will do a\u00a0physical exam<\/a>, ask you about your medical history, and do\u00a0allergy tests<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Take steps to prevent allergic reactions.<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you confirm your diagnosis, your next step is to prevent allergic reactions. The only way to do this is to avoid your food allergen.<\/p>\n To avoid your food allergen, learn how to read labels to find your allergen. If you are allergic to one of the major food allergens in the U.S., the food will be listed in plain language. Sometimes foods are listed under other names (like on restaurant menus). We have created\u00a0ingredient lists for many of the most common food allergens<\/a>\u00a0to help you recognize these foods on labels. Companies may change ingredients at any time. This is why it is important to read every label, every time.<\/p>\n When you prepare food, you\u2019ll need to take care with\u00a0cross-contact<\/a>. Cross-contact occurs when a food allergen comes in contact with food or an item not intended to contain that allergen. This can happen in places such as home kitchens, restaurants, and on food manufacturing lines.<\/p>\n Recipe substitutions<\/a>\u00a0can help you prepare safe versions of foods you enjoy. You can also find many recipes in\u00a0Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) Safe Eats\u00ae Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collection<\/a>. Search thousands of recipes that are free of many of the most common food allergens. (KFA is the food allergy division of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.)<\/p>\n If you have an infant, you can take steps that may help prevent food allergies<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. Be prepared to treat anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, at all times.<\/strong><\/p>\n When you have a food allergy, you can be at risk for a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis<\/a>\u00a0[anna-fih-LACK-sis]. This type of allergic reaction can happen quickly, and you may need to go to the emergency room. Epinephrine is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis.<\/p>\n Epinephrine is most commonly prescribed in easy-to-use options, such as auto-injectors and nasal spray. If you have a food allergy, keep epinephrine with you at all times. Don\u2019t leave it in the car, at home, or in a separate building.<\/p>\n Work with your doctor to create an anaphylaxis action plan<\/a>. This plan helps you identify severe symptoms and tells you when and how to use epinephrine.<\/p>\n With careful planning and resources, you can successfully manage your food allergies.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” open_toggle_background_color=”#f0f0f0″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_background_color=”#f0f0f0″ toggle_icon=”L||divi||400″ icon_color=”#FFFFFF” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”20px” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Accordion” module_id=”references” module_class=”accord pa-accordion” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” toggle_font=”|600|||||||” toggle_font_size=”22px” closed_toggle_font=”|600|||||||” closed_toggle_font_size=”22px” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#505050″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.4em” body_link_font=”||||on|||#008C99|” text_orientation=”left” height=”24″ height_tablet=”” height_phone=”” height_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”||2%||false|false” custom_css_free_form=”.et_pb_toggle_title:before {|| font-size: 20px;|| position: absolute;|| color: #FFFFFF;|| font-family: ETmodules !important;|| font-weight: 400 !important;|| content: %22%924c%22 !important;|| right: 2% !important;|| display: inline-block !important;||}||.accord .et_pb_toggle_content {|| color: #008c99;|| font-size: 16px;|| font-weight: 500;||}” border_width_all=”0px” disabled=”on” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Closed” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”1. See an allergist to confirm your food allergy.” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n A food allergy can affect your quality of life. A limited diet can be challenging and stressful. And if you have multiple food allergies, you may also need to make sure you are getting the right nutrition. This is why it\u2019s important to get an accurate diagnosis if you think you have a food allergy.<\/p>\n If you think you have a food allergy, see a board-certified allergist if possible. They will do a physical exam<\/a>, ask you about your medical history, and do allergy tests<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”2. Take steps to prevent allergic reactions.” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Once you confirm your diagnosis, your next step is to prevent allergic reactions. The only way to do this is to avoid your food allergen.<\/p>\n To avoid your food allergen, learn how to read labels to find your allergen. If you are allergic to one of the major food allergens in the U.S., the food will be listed in plain language. Sometimes foods are listed under other names (like on restaurant menus). We have created ingredient lists for many of the most common food allergens<\/a> to help you recognize these foods on labels. Companies may change ingredients at any time. This is why it is important to read every label, every time.<\/p>\n When you prepare food, you\u2019ll need to take care with cross-contact<\/a>. Cross-contact occurs when a food allergen comes in contact with food or an item not intended to contain that allergen. This can happen in places such as home kitchens, restaurants, and on food manufacturing lines.<\/p>\n Recipe substitutions<\/a> can help you prepare safe versions of foods you enjoy. You can also find many recipes in Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) Safe Eats\u00ae Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collection<\/a>. Search nearly 1,500 recipes that are free of many of the most common food allergens. (KFA is the food allergy division of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.)<\/p>\n If you have an infant, you can take steps that may prevent a peanut allergy<\/a>. Studies have shown that introducing peanuts to a child at an early age greatly reduces their risk of developing peanut allergy.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”3. Be prepared to treat anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, at all times” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n When you have a food allergy, you can be at risk for a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis<\/a> [anna-fih-LACK-sis]. This type of allergic reaction can happen quickly, and you may need to go to the emergency room. Epinephrine is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis.<\/p>\n Epinephrine comes in portable, easy-to-use devices such as an auto-injector. If you have a food allergy, keep epinephrine with you at all times. Don\u2019t leave it in the car, at home, or in a separate building.<\/p>\n Work with your doctor to create an anaphylaxis action plan. This plan helps you identify severe symptoms and tells you when and how to use epinephrine.<\/p>\n With careful planning and resources, you can successfully manage your food allergies.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tan Callout Box” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ link_line_height=”1.7em” ul_line_height=”1.7em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” background_color=”#F5EDDF” custom_padding=”4%|4%|4%|4%|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Visit our food allergy division \u2013\u00a0Kids with Food Allergies<\/a>:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Medical Review” module_class=”med-rev” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_font_size=”16px” link_text_color=”#008C99″ link_font_size=”16px” header_5_font=”|600|||||||” header_5_text_align=”left” header_5_text_color=”#008c99″ custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Medical Review<\/a>: December 2022 by Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc<\/small><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”References” module_class=”clearfix” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_font_size=”16px” link_text_color=”#008C99″ link_font_size=”16px” header_5_font=”|600|||||||” header_5_text_align=”left” header_5_text_color=”#008c99″ custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Print” module_id=”print” module_class=”clearfix” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_module=”5156″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
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There are three basic principles to managing food allergies.<\/h3>\n
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References\u200b<\/h5>\n
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