People can have allergic reactions to food, detergents, toiletries, and even dust mites.

Your body's immune system is there to protect you from infection. When a harmful substance (i.e. a virus or bacteria) enters the body of someone with a sensitized immune system, antibodies quickly arrive to begin the process that deals with it. With allergies, the system mistakes otherwise harmless substances for something more dangerous and triggers the immune response.

What are the symptoms of a food allergy?

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary. The most common reactions include:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Developing a rash/itch/spots
• Swelling of the tongue.
• Nausea and feeling bloated
• Diarrhoea and/or vomiting

Think of these as clues to help you realise you might have an allergy.  It is important to get a proper medical diagnosis. Do not cut out certain foods without medical advice because you could miss out on important nutrients.

People with severe allergies can have a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. This can produce symptoms in different parts of the body at the same time and can induce rashes, swelling of the lips and throat, difficulty in breathing and a rapid fall of blood pressure and a looss of consciousness.

Food Allergy and Intolerance

Food allergy and food intolerance are both types of food sensitivity. Food intolerance is different from an allergy as it does not involve the immune system and generally is not life threatening. However, if someone eats a food to which they are intolerant this could make them feel ill or affect their long-term health. Examples of a food intolerance include lactose (a sugar found in milk) intolerance and gluten (a type of protein found in cereals) intolerance.

The most common food allergy and intolerance reaction in adults are to peanuts, fish, wheat (cereals containing gluten), shellfish and nuts. In children, the most common allergic reactions to food are to eggs, milk, nuts, peanuts, soya and wheat. Usually children grow out of most types of food allergy in early childhood.

Buying food when you have an allergy

All of identified list of allergic ingredients (currently 14) must be listed on a food label/packaging under the law, regardless of the amount that is intentionally in the product. This helps to make it easier for people with food allergies to work out whether or not the product is safe for them to eat.

The Food Standards Agency (in collaboration with six allergy and nutrition organisations) has produced an advice leaflet for people newly diagnosed with a food allergy: Buying food when you have a food allergy or food intolerance.

Treatment

Allergies and food intolerances have no medical 'cure' but you can try to avoid the substance responsible, and the symptoms can be treated.

Antihistamines may help reduce some of the effects of an allergic reaction, but always talk it over with your GP or pharmacist first. People with severe allergies should always take their medication with them wherever they go.

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Allergy UK - For more information and support on allergies, see the Allergy UK website. Their helpline number is 01322 619 898 (Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm).