Food Allergies/Food Intolerances

Meeting your dietary needs

What is a food allergy?

An abnormal immune system response to a food

Histamine is released by the body which triggers an inflammatory reaction in the digestive tract, skin, nose lungs or throat

Most likely a substance that is normally harmless to other people in a similar amount

What are some common foods people are allergic to?

WheatPeanuts Other nutsShellfish

◦Shrimp◦Crayfish◦Lobster◦Crab◦Mussels◦Oysters

EggsChocolateCitrus FruitMilkStrawberries…..etc.

Who gets food allergies?

• Allergies often run in families• People can have food allergies in

adulthood as well• Babies and Children are the most

vulnerable to food allergies• New foods should be introduced slowly• Some food allergies leave when children grow

older and their immune system matures

How many people have food allergies?

A small percentage of people are affected by food allergies

Symptoms of food allergies

Skin rashVomitingWheezingRunny noseAnaphylactic shock

◦Throat swells◦Breathing is difficult

Gasping for breathAbdominal painDiarrheaItchy mouth

Testing for food allergies

Scratch TestBlood TestDouble-Blind Food Test

Treatment

EpiPenExclusion Diet-avoiding the “trigger”

foods◦Can be difficult

Helping a Friend

Do’s Don’t

Learn about foods to avoid

Ask about symptomsFind out about

medicationsRead labelsWash hands

Pressure friends to try foods

Ignore the symptoms of a reaction

Exclude a friend because of an allergy

Allow others to tease

Food Intolerance and Common Examples of intolerances

Occurs when the body fails to produce an enzyme needed to digest certain foods

Milk and other dairy productsCaffeineGluten

Food Intolerance Symptoms

BloatingGasNausea

Naturally poisonous foods if not prepared/cooked correctly

Kidney BeansMorel MushroomsFugu

Kidney Beans

Contains a high level of lectin-a toxinEating raw or undercooked kidney beans

can lead to extreme abdominal pain

Morel Mushrooms

Contain helvellic acidWhen cooked the acid is destroyedMake sure you only eat mushrooms that

you have identified

Fugu(Blowfish)

Delicacy in JapanContains a toxin that is 270x’s more toxic

than cyanideSpecially trained chefs have a special

license to prepare this fishThe chef must remove the glands

containing the toxinIf the toxin is eaten you will die

Who has dietary requirements?

BabiesElderlyReligionCultureHealth/Physical ConditionsAllergiesIntolerancesPregnantPersonal Taste

Questions to Answer

How can restaurants let consumers know whether or not there dishes are prepared with allergy prone foods on the menu?

Why should you self-advocate for your dietary needs?

Where can you find recipes for different dietary needs?

What are some examples of foods that can be substituted to meet dietary requirements?

Why is it important to manage the introduction of foods to children?

Lunch Menu Analysis

Look over the lunch menu for OctoberUsing the list of groups with the most

common allergies-Peanuts and Tree nuts, Dairy, Eggs, and Gluten. List two options available to each group.

What are 2 ways the menu is accommodating to these different dietary groups?

What are 2 ways the menu could be improved to meet needs of people with dietary requirements?