Most Common Food Allergies

Most food allergies begin before birth. Chances are, if you have an allergy to a particular food, you got it from one or both of your parents. According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), two percent of American adults and two to eight percent of children have true food allergies. That number, however, is on the rise.

Don't confuse intolerance with an allergy. Many people with food intolerance mistakenly think they are allergic, when if fact, they are not. A true allergy often causes a severe reaction that results in constricted breathing, rashes, and a host of other problems. An intolerance to a certain food means your body does not handle it well, but it is never a life-threatening event.

People who find out they have an allergy to a specific food should consider they are allergic to other related foods as well, and should avoid those foods. When you are told you are allergic to peanuts, for example, you should find out what other foods you should avoid.

Most food allergies show up in childhood, though this isn't always the case. Some foods are not sampled in childhood, so the allergy would remain unknown. Adults can develop allergies when trying a food they have never eaten before.

If you should suddenly have a severe reaction directly after taking a bite of something or finishing a meal, it is important to narrow down what may have caused the reaction so you can avoid the food in the future.

Here are the most common foods that cause allergic reactions in both adults and children.

Nuts

Peanuts are, by far, the most common food allergy. Many places will not allow peanuts (elementary schools, for example) or must display signs that warn when there may be peanuts included in their products, or even if their products are prepared where they may come into contact with peanuts.

Food prepared in an establishment with peanuts, such as an ice cream shop, must be especially careful in this regard. Accidentally using a spoon that has touched peanuts to add a different topping is enough to give someone with a peanut allergy a severe reaction. If you have an allergy to peanuts, you are better off preparing your sundae at home.