What Are the Most Common Food Allergies?

Food allergies are overreactions by the immune system to certain ingredients in a food. When products containing such allergens are consumed, those affected may experience allergic reactions such as a runny nose, asthma, skin reactions, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. The most severe form of allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. Several organs such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, and cardiovascular system can be affected at the same time. It is then a medical emergency that must be treated immediately, otherwise, it can be life-threatening. The most common food allergies are listed here:

• Cow’s milk: People allergic to cow’s milk usually react to the allergens casein and beta-lactoglobulin (a whey protein) contained in the milk. Anyone who suffers from a cow’s milk allergy should completely avoid products containing cow’s milk and cow’s milk. This also includes foods with additives from cow’s milk protein such as skimmed milk powder, cream, or whey, which are contained in many convenience foods.
• Chicken egg: Allergy sufferers who suffer from this food allergy usually react to the egg white. Even in processed form as dried egg, liquid egg, or lecithin, the egg can cause allergies in food. On the other hand, some people with chicken egg allergies tolerate baked eggs without any major problems. A tolerance test should always be carried out in consultation with a specialist.
• Nuts and peanuts: An allergy to hazelnuts often occurs as a so-called cross-allergy in people allergic to birch pollen. Peanut allergies, on the other hand, often manifest themselves as a cross-allergy with sensitivities to grass pollen. A nut allergy often manifests itself through skin reactions such as itching, scratchy throat, or shortness of breath. A peanut allergy is particularly dangerous, in which even the smallest amounts are sufficient to cause the most severe allergic reactions. Even traces of nuts and peanuts in finished products or chocolate can be dangerous for allergy sufferers.
• Spices and herbs: Spices such as celery, coriander, basil, and curry can act as aggressive allergens. A food allergy to celery often occurs as a cross-allergy to birch pollen, vegetables, or herbs such as mugwort.
• Apples and fruit: Food allergies to fruit are also often cross allergies. Anyone who experiences problems in the mouth and throat after eating stone fruit is often allergic to birch pollen. Allergy sufferers, on the other hand, usually react less severely to cooked, baked, or otherwise processed fruit. It’s not just apples, cherries, or plums that can have an allergic effect; food allergies are also common to types of fruit such as mangoes, lychees, or kiwis.