Food Allergies

1
Food Allergies

• Melissa Bess
• Nutrition and Health Education Specialist

FNEP STAFF TRAINING ONLY, DO NOT USE WITH FNEP
PARTICIPANTS
03/2007
2
Discussion Topics

• What is a food allergy?
• Who gets a food allergy?
• Most common food allergies
• Symptoms
• How is it diagnosed?
• How can you avoid food allergies?
• Tips to prevent allergies
• What to do if there is a reaction.

3
Discussion Topics

• Children and allergies
• New research
• How a child might describe reaction
• Food intolerance
• Cross-reactions
• Hidden allergens

4
What is a food allergy?

• Immune system function
• Super-sensitive
• Allergens
• Usually the protein part
• Allergens react to antibodies
• Release chemicals causing symptoms

5
Who gets a food allergy?

• About 3 to 8 percent of children have reaction
• Only 1 to 2 percent have true food allergies
• Children usually grow out of sensitivity by age 4
  (not peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish)
  
• About 1 to 2 percent of adults

6
Most common food allergies

• Children
• Milk, egg, peanuts, wheat, soy, tree nuts
• Most will outgrow eggs, milk, wheat, and soy
• Adults
• Peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, walnuts), fish,
  shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab), mollusks
  (oysters, clams, scallops)

7
Most common food allergies

• Peanuts and/or tree nuts three million
  Americans (1.1 of population)
  
• About 150 people in US die each year, 30,000 ER
  visits
  
• About 4 believed to have food allergy, 2.3 to
  seafood
  
• More than 160 foods associated with allergic
  reactions
  

8
Symptoms of food allergies

• Reaction within minutes to two hours
• How soon and how severe depend on sensitivity to
  food, how much was consumed, other foods consume,
  and preparation
  
• May have minor symptoms at first

9
Symptoms

• Digestive system
• Swelling, itching
• Tightness
• Hoarseness
• Nausea
• Cramping
• Pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

• Body systems (skin, lungs, etc)
• Hives, skin swelling
• Anaphylaxis BP falls, wheezing, breathing
  problems, nausea, rapid pulse, flushing,
  faintness, passing out
  
• Can lead to death

10
(No Transcript)
11
Symptoms

• Severe reactions more common in peanuts, tree
  nuts, shellfish, fish, and eggs
  
• Also more common in those with asthma
• Death usually seen in peanuts or tree nuts

12
How are food allergies diagnosed?

• Physician
• Medical history, physical exam
• Skin test
• Lab tests
• Oral food challenge
• Elimination diet
• Double-blind food challenge

13
How can you avoid food allergies?

• Identify those at risk
• Consult a doctor
• Consider breast feeding
• Maternal diet avoiding eggs, cow milk, peanuts,
  fish

14
Tips to prevent allergies

• Do not consume allergic foods
• Read the ingredient list
• New in 2006 must clearly state food allergen
  (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree
  nuts, peanuts, wheat, or soybeans)
  
• If traveling, bring special foods
• When eating out, ask about foods

15
Tips to prevent allergies

• Know which children have allergies and what those
  are
  
• Know how to recognize symptoms
• Have a plan in cause of allergic response
• Wash hands with soap, surfaces with cleaners for
  peanut allergies
  

16
What to do if a child has a reaction

• Take medication
• Seek medical help
• Keep injectable epinephrine
• Wear Medic-Alert bracelet

17
Children and allergies

• For babies, discuss formula options with doctor
• Dont introduce solid foods too early wait
  about 6 months
  
• Wait on foods with common allergens
• Cow milk age 1
• Eggs age 2
• Peanuts, nuts or fish age 3 or after
• American Academy of Pediatricians

18
Children and allergies

• Cows milk common cause hives, asthma, colic,
  sleeplessness, blood in stool, poor growth
  
• Immature immune systems
• May change to soy or elemental formula
• Drugs to severe cases
• Breast milk helps

19
New research

• Peanut allergies increasing
• Peanut exposure, in peanut butter, reduces severe
  reaction
  
• Peanut vaccine
• Link in food allergies and asthma
• Roasting peanuts may increase allergic
  properties
  
• FDA proposing a gluten-free label

20
How child describes reaction

• Put hands to mouth, pull or scratch tongues,
  voices may change
  
• Food is too spicy
• My tongue is hot, something is poking it
• My mouth is tingly, itches, or feels funny
• My tongue feels full, my throat feels thick

21
Food Intolerance

• More common than allergies
• Food poisoning
• Histamine toxicity (cheese, wine, fish)
• Lactose intolerance
• Food additives (MSG)
• Gluten intolerance (small intestine)
• Corn products
• True allergy avoid food (immune system)
• Intolerance small amount is ok (digestive
  system)
  

22
Cross Reactions (food and non-food)

• Ragweed- Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew,
  bananas
  
• Birch pollen-carrots, apples, hazelnuts,
  potatoes
  
• Banana latex
• If allergic to one shellfish or legumes, likely
  allergic to all!
  

23
Hidden allergens

• Eggs baked goods, noodles
• Milk pies, cheese
• Soy baked goods, candy, tv dinners
• Wheat flours, soup mixes, snacks
• Peanut candy, baked goods, ice cream
• Fish seafood flavors
• New food labels should help

24
Eating out with allergies

• Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, etc dishes usually
  made with peanuts
  
• Cross-contamination of allergens
• Not as easy to read ingredient list

25
Resources

• Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN)
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and
  Immunology
  
• Food and Drug Administration
• USDA National Agriculture Library

26
(No Transcript)