Did you know that 5% of adults and 8% of children have a food allergy? Food allergies are very common, and research says they are only going to continue increasing in prevalence. We’ve all heard of food allergies, but what exactly are they, and what causes them to occur?

When someone has a food allergy, their body triggers an immune response against certain foods. This is because the immune system is flagging some of the proteins in the food as harmful, which triggers a cascade of events in the body. This includes the release of a chemical known as histamine, which promotes inflammation. Symptoms can vary in their presentation, onset, and severity. Some of the most common symptoms include swelling of the tongue, mouth or face, hives, itchy rash, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Sometimes allergies can cause more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis and can even be fatal. 

There are two main types of food allergies, IgE antibody or non-IgE antibody. As the name implies, an IgE food allergy involves the release of the IgE antibody. An antibody is a type of protein in the blood that is used by the immune system to fight infection. However, in a non-IgE food allergy, the IgE antibodies are not released. Rather, the body uses other parts of the immune system to fight off the “threat” from the food. 

Although food allergies could be seemingly endless, there are eight main food “culprits” that are responsible for these reactions to occur. These include:

• Cow’s milk/dairy
• Eggs
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Wheat
• Soy
• Fish

It’s important to note that the human body is extremely complex and can develop and grow out of food allergies or intolerances thus making it important to know your foods.

Products we are loving on our shelves: 

Enjoy Life

Free of the top 8 allergens, this company is one of the largest allergy-friendly bakeries in North America producing everything from breakfast bars to cookies to chips. Their quality is great and an easy go to for our allergy friends.

Made Good

Free of the top 8 allergens, bars are probably the hardest product to find that meets the criteria to be free of all the allergens but this one is not only delicious but nutritious.

Sunbutter

If you’re looking for a nut butter alternative sunbutter is an excellent choice to use on everything from bananas to sandwiches.

Garden Lites Veggies Made Great (contains egg)

With the first ingredient being vegetables it’s hard not to love this moist, easy morning muffin option that is stored in the freezer until you’re ready to use.

Just Eggs (contains soy)

Have someone in your life with an egg allergy? This is a great solution for the whole family to indulge in and it tastes very similar to the real thing.