Background
True food allergy is an immune system-mediated response to the foods we ingest. Symptoms may include reactions in skin, respiratory tract, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, and oral tissues. In the most serious cases, which are most often associated with peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish, symptoms may include difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis. Reactions generally occur within minutes to hours. Food allergy should be distinguished from food intolerance, which may present similar symptoms, but is not an immunological reaction.
Incidence and Prevalence
Many Americans believe they have food allergies, while in reality fewer than 1% of adults and 3% of children have true allergies. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the prevalence of food allergy is increasing. Food allergy causes roughly 30,000 episodes of anaphylaxis and 100 to 200 deaths per year in the United States alone.
Cause and Risk Factors
Food allergies occur as immunologic responses to food proteins following the introduction of allergens through the digestive tract. After the immune system produces IgE antibodies against protein epitopes from the ingested food product, the IgE molecules are coated onto mast cells, which inhabit the mucosal lining of the digestive tract. Upon ingesting an allergen, the IgE reacts with its protein epitopes and release a number of chemicals (including histamine), which lead to oedema of the intestinal wall, loss of fluid, and altered motility, most frequently resulting in production of diarrhea. Food allergies deserve immediate attention and diagnosis, as any potentially has the ability to cause anaphylactic shock and a fatal reaction.
List of Allergens
F001 Egg White
F002 Cow Milk
F003 Cod
F004 Wheat
F005 Rye
F006 Barley
F007 Oat
F008 Corn (Flour)
F009 Rice
F010 Sesame Seed (Bruised Grain)
F011 Buckwheat
F012 Green Pea
F013 Peanut
F014 Soybean
F015 White Bean
F017 Filbert (Hazelnut)
F018 Brazil Nut
F019 Cayenne Pepper
F020 Almond
F021 Cane Sugar
F022 Raspberry
F023 Crab
F024 Shrimp
F025 Tomato
F026 Pork
F027 Beef
F029 Watermelon
F031 Carrot
F032 Oyster Mushroom
F033 Orange
F035 Potato, White
F036 Coconut
F037 Mussel
F040 Tuna
F041 Salmon
F042 Haddock
F043 Mother's Milk
F044 Strawberry
F045 Baker's Yeast
F046 Red Pepper (Food)
F047 Garlic
F048 Onion
F049 Apple
F050 Mackerel
F051 Bamboo Shoot
F052 Chocolate/Cocoa
F053 Scallop
F054 Sweet Potato
F055 Millet
F059 Octopus
F060 Mackerel (Jack)
F063 Kefir
F065 Perch (Rose Fish)
F067 Parmesan Cheese
F068 Ewe's Cheese
F075 Egg Yolk
F076 Alpha-Lactalbumin
F077 Beta-Lactoglobulin
F078 Casein
F079 Gluten
F080 Lobster
F083 Chicken
F084 Kiwi
F085 Celery
F086 Parsley
F087 Melon, Honeydew
F088 Lamb
F089 Mustard
F090 Malt
F091 Mango
F092 Banana
F094 Pear
F095 Peach
F096 Avocado
F097 Chamomile Tea
F101 Bean Herb
F102 Cantaloupe
F109 Cottonseed
F110 Giant Radish
F113 Chinese Cabbage
F114 Sheep Sorrel (Vinegar Plant)
F115 Pickled Cabbage
F117 Savoy
F118 Zucchini
F119 Radish
F120 Venison
F121 Pinto Bean
F122 Cheese, American (Defatted)
F124 Spelt
F125 Peppermint Tea
F126 Peppermint Herbs
F127 Black-Eyed Pea
F129 Sole
F130 Cabbage Mix
F131 Black Olive
F132 Wild Boar
F136 Red Beet
F139 Goat's Cheese
F140 Bran
F141 Corn (Vegetables)
F143 Roquefort Cheese
F147 Flounder
F148 Castor Bean Oil
F149 Sago
F150 Edam Cheese
F152 Green Bell Pepper
F155 Brewer's Yeast
F156 Potato Powder
F157 Duck
F158 Goose
F160 Camembert Cheese
F161 Cauliflower (Boiled)
F162 Nectarine
F163 Kohlrabi
F164 Cress
F166 Leek
F174 Fig
F176 Red Currant
F177 Cranberry
F179 Raisin
F180 Morello Cherry
F181 Gooseberry
F182 Lima Bean
F183 Sunflower Seed
F198 Flaxseed (Bruised Grain)
F199 Untreated Native Milk
F200 Soy Milk
F201 Pecan Nut
F202 Cashew Nut
F203 Pistachio Nut
F204 Trout
F205 Herring
F207 Clam
F208 Lemon
F209 Grapefruit
F210 Pineapple
F211 Blackberry
F212 Mushroom
F213 Rabbit
F214 Spinach
F215 Lettuce
F216 Cabbage
F217 Brussels Sprouts
F218 Paprika
F219 Sage
F220 Cinnamon
F221 Coffee
F222 Tea
F223 Green olive
F224 Poppy
F225 Summer Squash
F226 Deer
F227 Swordfish
F231 Milk (Boiled)
F232 Ovalbumin
F233 Ovomucoid
F234 Vanilla
F235 Lentil
F236 Whey
F237 Apricot
F241 Gouda Cheese
F242 Bing Cherry
F244 Cucumber
F245 Egg, Whole
F246 Flour of Guar Kernel
F247 Honey
F248 Rosemary
F252 Groats
F253 Pine Nut
F254 Plaice
F255 Plum
F256 Walnut
F257 Coconut, Dessicated
F258 Squid
F259 Grape
F260 Broccoli
F261 Asparagus
F262 Eggplant/Aubergine
F264 Eel
F265 Cumin
F267 Cardamom
F268 Cloves
F269 Basil
F270 Ginger
F271 Aniseed
F272 Tarragon
F273 Thyme
F274 Marjoram
F275 Lovage
F276 Fennel (Fresh)
F277 Dill
F278 Bay Leaf (Laurel)
F279 Chili Pepper
F280 Black Pepper
F282 Nutmeg
F283 Oregano
F284 Turkey
F287 Kidney Bean (Red Bean)
F288 Blueberry
F289 Date
F290 Oyster
F291 Cauliflower
F292 Guava
F293 Papaya
F294 Maracuja
F296 Carob Bean Flour
F299 Sweet Chestnut
F300 Goat Milk
F302 Tangerine
F303 Halibut
F304 Spiny Lobster
F306 Lime
F308 Sardine
F309 Chickpea
F313 Anchovy
F314 Snail
F315 Green Bean
F317 Coriander
F319 Beetroot
F320 Crayfish
F321 Horse
F324 Hops
F325 Saffron
F327 Chervil
F329 Pepper (White)
F330 Juniper Berry
F332 Mint
F333 Carp
F334 Baking Aid
F335 Pepper, Green
F336 Wine Vinegar
F337 Wine Yeast
F338 Wine, White
F339 Wine, Red
F340 Gelatin
F345 Macadamia Nut
F351 Butter
F352 Ewe's Milk
F354 Caviar
F356 Black Currant
F357 Borecole
F358 Artichoke
F360 Yogurt
F368 Black Bass
F369 Catfish
F371 Chicory
F374 Karaya Gum
F375 Horseradish
F377 Maple Syrup
F379 Okra
F381 Red Snapper
F382 Beet, Sugar
F384 Whitefish
