1. Nutrition and Wellness

2.  Food allergies can be deadly!  What responsibility do food service operations have to customers who suffer from food allergies?  What are some common food allergies that you have heard of?

3.  A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein.  Eating the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction.

4.  Any food can cause a food allergy. However, milk, eggs, wheat, peanut, soy, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are the most common causes of food allergic reactions in the U.S.

5.  The symptoms may be mild (rashes, hives, itching, swelling, etc.) or severe (trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness, etc.).  A food allergy can be potentially fatal. Scientists estimate that as many as 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies.

6.  A skin prick test or a blood test to test for antibodies is commonly used to begin to determine if an allergy exists. A skin prick test is usually less expensive and can be done in the doctor’s office.  The results of the tests are combined with other information, such as a history of symptoms and the result of a food challenge to determine whether a food allergy exists.

8.  Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction.  Reading ingredient labels for all foods is the key to avoiding a reaction.  If a product doesn’t have a label, individuals with a food allergy should not eat that food.  There is no cure for food allergies. Studies are inconclusive about whether food allergies can be prevented.

9.  Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, is the medication of choice for controlling a severe reaction.  It is available by prescription as a self- injectable device (EpiPen® or Twinject®).

10.  When a food allergy is involved, grocery shopping takes extra time, because each ingredient statement must be carefully read.  Manufacturers change the ingredients of their products frequently, and such changes are not always evident by looking at the front of a package.  Read the ingredient label every time you purchase a food, even a familiar food.

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12.  What are some of the most common food allergies?  Can food allergies be deadly?  What precautions would a person with food allergies have to take when eating out in a restaurant?  If you had a friend with food allergies, what are some ways you could be sensitive to their needs?