THE FOOD ALLERGY
GIRL SCOUTS

Eggs

Egg whites are usually the culprit in allergic reactions, but because you can’t completely separate the egg whites from the yolks, all eggs are off-limits to people with egg allergies. While most egg allergies refer to chicken eggs, people with egg allergy also avoid eggs from ducks, geese, turkeys and quail.

 
While approximately 70% of children with egg allergies can eat baked eggs, when giving food to someone with an egg allergy, you should completely avoid eggs to be safe.

Eggs are commonly found in protein shakes, eggnog, meringues, baked goods (cakes, muffins, brownies, bread), marshmallows, ice cream, and mayonnaise. Some foods where you might not expect to see egg include pasta, pretzels and specialty drinks. 

 

Federal law requires that egg be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Milk

Milk allergies usually refer to milk from a cow. An allergy to cow’s milk does not necessarily mean that a person is allergic to other domesticated animal milk. An allergy to cow’s milk is the most common allergy in children.

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While approximately 70% of children with milk allergies can eat baked milk, when giving food to someone with a milk allergy, you should completely avoid milk to be safe.

 

Milk allergies are sometimes confused with lactose intolerance, but they are not the same. Lactose intolerance is not having enough enzymes to break down the sugar in milk. A milk allergy is caused by a reaction to the proteins in milk.

 

Milk is commonly found in cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt, pudding, chocolate, and baked goods (cake, muffins, brownies). However, it can also be found hiding in lunch meats and canned tuna. People with milk allergies should be particularly careful at restaurants because food is often cooked with butter.

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Federal law requires that milk be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Tree Nuts

Sometimes people confuse tree nuts and peanuts. Tree nuts grow on trees while peanuts grow underground. People with tree nut allergies are usually not allergic to peanuts. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. People can be allergic to just one tree nut, many or all tree nuts. If you know someone with a tree nut allergy, you should ask which nuts they are allergic to. Some people choose to avoid all tree nuts just to be safe.
 

People with tree nut allergies can often eat seeds in place of tree nuts such as sunflower and pumpkin. Macadamia nuts and pine nuts are seeds and most people with tree nut allergies can eat them, but it is important to check with the person.

Coconut, while it has “nut” in the name” is not actually a tree nut, but a fruit. Most people with tree nut allergies can eat coconuts. Also, nutmeg, water chestnut, butternut squash and shea nut, while they also have “nut” in the name, are not actually tree nuts and most people with tree nut allergies can eat these too.
 

Tree nuts can be found in unexpected places such as specialty coffee drinks, sauces and cereals. For people with a tree nut allergy bakeries, restaurants and ice cream shops are considered high risk environments because of cross-contamination.
 

Federal law requires that tree nuts be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Peanuts

Sometimes people confuse tree nuts and peanuts. Tree nuts grow on trees while peanuts grow underground and are considered legumes. Legumes include peas and beans, but people with peanut allergies are not necessarily allergic to other legumes. People with peanut allergies are also not necessarily allergic to tree nuts.

Peanuts can be found in peanut butter, trail mix, and candies. Peanuts can also be found in unexpected foods including chili, sauces, baked goods, and dressings. 

People with peanut allergies should also be careful to check that there is not cross-contamination in products that contain tree nuts and have peanuts in the facility where they are made. Sometimes even the dust of a peanut can cause a severe reaction.

Federal law requires that peanuts be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Fish

Fish and shellfish allergies are often confused. A fish allergy refers to finned fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, catfish, and cod. However, there are over 20,000 species of fish and any of these can trigger a reaction.  

A significant amount of fish allergies develop in adulthood. While fish and shellfish allergies are not related, people with fish allergies should be aware of possible cross contamination in restaurants when ordering shellfish.

While it is generally obvious when products contain fish (i.e. fish oil, fish flavoring or fish gelatin), some fish additives are unexpectedly found in Caesar salad, barbeque sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and fish sticks, which people mistakenly think are not real fish.

Federal law requires that fish be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Shellfish

Shellfish and fish allergies are often confused. Shellfish are divided into two categories, crustaceans, which include shrimp, crab, and lobster; and mollusks and bivalves, which include clams, oysters, octopuses and mussels. Shellfish do not necessarily have a shell.

 

Shellfish is the most common food allergy in adults. It is also one of the top food allergies in children. While fish and shellfish allergies are not related, people with shellfish allergies should be aware of possible cross contamination in restaurants when ordering finned fish.

 

Federal law requires that crustaceans be listed as an allergen on packaged foods. However, the law does not require that mollusks be listed as a possible allergen in foods. This makes determining if a food contains mollusks challenging. 

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Wheat

Wheat allergies are often confused with celiac diseases. Like all of the other allergies, a wheat allergy is a reaction to the proteins in the wheat, which can cause anaphylaxis. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the small intestine resulting in digestive problems including diarrhea, constipation, pain, bloating and weight loss. While both conditions are serious and sometimes have similar symptoms, a wheat allergy can result in anaphylaxis causing death.

Wheat can be found in breads, pasta, cereal, baked goods and crackers. Wheat can also be found in unexpected foods such as soy sauce, candy, hot dogs, potato chips, ice cream and salad dressing. Wheat allergies can most often be found in young children and many of these children outgrow the allergy by age 12. 

Federal law requires that wheat be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Soy

Soy is a legume, like the peanut. Legumes include beans, lentils, and peas. While most people with a soy allergy are not allergic to beans, lentils and peas, they do tend to have an allergy to many of the top nine allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy and sesame.

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Soy allergies are most common in young children and infants. Most children do outgrow their allergy to soy. 

 

Soy can be found in many Asian dishes as well as tofu, edamame, miso, sauces and oils. Soy can also be found in unexpected foods including packaged meat, crackers, chips, cookies, peanut butter, candy, broths, cereals and energy bars.

Federal law requires that soy be listed as an allergen on packaged foods.

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Sesame

Sesame became the ninth top allergen that must be listed on packaged foods by Federal law on January 1, 2023. People should be aware that packaged foods produced before then may not list sesame as a possible allergen.

Sesame seeds are edible seeds from the sesame plant and are used in foods from all over the world. Sesame seeds can be found in baked goods, hummus, sauces, cereals, dressings and soups. It can also be found in non-food products including pet food, cosmetics and nutritional supplements. 

Federal law requires that sesame be listed as an allergen on packaged foods as of January 1, 2023.