Common Food Allergies

If you're allergic to some types of food, chances are they fall on this list of common food allergies. Learn more about common food allergies. 

When the body's immune system reacts abnormally to something a person eats or drinks, it's known as a food allergy.
Food allergies may affect as many as 220 to 520 million people worldwide, with the majority of those sufferers being children. It is estimated that more than 12 million Americans have diagnosed food allergies.

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A food allergy may affect the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, or the respiratory or cardiovascular systems. Many types of foods can be allergens, but certain foods are much more likely than others to trigger an allergic reaction.
In fact, a mere eight foods are responsible for 90 percent of food allergies in North America: cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, shellfish, tree nuts (such as cashews or walnuts), wheat, and soy.

Symptoms of Food Allergies

Symptoms of food allergies may range from mild to severe and they may come on suddenly or develop over several hours.
Because a person's immune system may react to a very small amount of the allergen, food allergies are particularly dangerous and potentially life threatening—especially if breathing is affected. Because of this, people with asthma are at an increased risk for a fatal allergic reaction to food.
Mild symptoms related to a food allergy may include:

• sneezing
• stuffy or runny nose
• itchy, watery eyes
• swelling
• rash
• stomach cramps
• diarrhea

Severe symptoms of an allergic reaction to food are:

• difficulty breathing, including wheezing
• swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
• hives (an itchy, blotchy and raised rash
• dizziness or faintness
• nausea or vomiting