Food allergies are an immune system disorder that makes it potentially fatal for affected individuals to eat foods that would be considered harmless by most. It is possible to be allergic to practically anything, but most food allergies are to proteins. Statistically most allergic reactions occur from ingesting or inhaling particles from one of the so-called "big eight" foods: peanuts, treenuts, egg, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and dairy. Symptoms vary widely from gastrointestinal distress, hives and itching, to more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, which impairs breathing and/or results in a serious drop in blood pressure and can cause death within minutes of exposure and for several hours afterwards. Type and severity of symptoms cannot be predicted even after an exposure has been observed. A food allergy is different from a food intolerance. A food intolerance is rarely fatal from a single, casual ingestion, and most usually causes gastrointestinal discomfort. Food allergies ar- Category ID : 75286
Nonprofit charity providing a forum for parents of children with severe food allergies and related problems. Includes recipes and international alerts.
Non-profit organization that provides information, training and emotional support. Includes information about allergies, food alerts, labelling, support for parents, and advice on handling the stress.
Provides guidance and information for people affected by life-threatening allergies, and raises awareness among schools, food producers and health professionals.