Almost any food can trigger an allergic reaction, but some are more common than others.

These are the food allergens you need to watch out for the most.

Peanuts

Peanut allergy is usually one that you’ll have for your entire life.

However, new treatments are becoming available that can help peanut allergy, including desensitisation. This is where patients are given increasing amounts of food containing peanuts over a period of time to reduce the risk of severe reactions.

Tree nuts

Tree nut allergy includes being allergic to pistachio, walnut, pecan, cashew, almond and hazelnut.

If you are allergic to one type of tree nut, you may also have an allergy to another kind.

Tree nuts can trigger severe allergies, so you may be advised to carry an epinephrine injection device (EpiPen®) with you.

Eggs

Allergy to eggs is common in young children but less so in adults.

Egg is an ingredient in many processed foods, so read labels carefully.

Some people can tolerate baked egg products, but speak to your doctor before trying them out.

Milk

Allergy to cow’s milk is one of the most common food allergies for all ages.

Like eggs, milk can be one of the more difficult food allergens to avoid as it’s used so widely.

Try almond, rice or coconut milk as an alternative to cow’s milk.

Wheat

Wheat allergy can sometimes be mistaken for coeliac disease, as both can cause similar symptoms.

The difference is that wheat allergy is an immune system response while coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition.

As well as avoiding wheat flour, you will need to avoid pasta made from wheat and some breakfast cereals if you have this allergy.

Sesame

The seeds from the sesame plant are used frequently in Asian cooking. They’re also used in cooking oil and sauces and to top baked products.

Be extra careful if eating or cooking dishes that use spice blends, which could contain sesame.

Fish

Allergy to fish such as salmon, tuna or cod is one of the most common food allergies.

Often, people with a fish allergy will have their first experience of a reaction when they are an adult.

If you have a fish allergy, you may not also be allergic to shellfish but you’ll need to avoid cross-contamination.

Shellfish

Like fish allergy, shellfish allergy usually first appears when people are adults.

The crustacea group of shellfish, which includes crab, shrimp and lobster, is more likely to cause a shellfish allergy.

Scallops, oysters, mussels and clams from the mollusc group may also cause shellfish allergy.

Soy

If you have a soy allergy, you may also be allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and milk.

Soy is widely used in Asian cuisine, so if you’re dining in this type of restaurant, you’ll need to pay special attention to the menu.

It’s also frequently used in tinned soups, dairy products and baked goods, so take care to read labels.

Got an allergy? You can still enjoy your food!

If you have a food allergy, there’s no reason why you can’t still enjoy your food.

You’ll just need to be careful when reading food labels and menus and know what to do if you have a reaction.

You should also be able to find some alternatives to give you a wider choice of food to enjoy.

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