Food labels tell you what ingredients are in a food. However, sometimes they use uncommon terms for an allergy-causing food or substance (allergen). The following table provides terms you may see on a food label for common allergens and foods that may contain

If you have used an epinephrine shot to treat an allergic reaction or have been accidentally stuck with an epinephrine shot, call your doctor. You may need additional medical care. An accidental stick in the hands or feet may stop blood flow to these areas.

Many people mistake food intolerances for food allergies because often both conditions have the same symptoms. For example, when people with lactose intolerance ingest dairy products, they experience stomach pain, gas, and diarrhea, symptoms similar to those o

Some medicines can cause side effects that are similar to the symptoms of food allergies.

Food intolerance refers to a physical response to a food that is not an allergic reaction. It differs from a food allergy in that it does not involve the immune system.

This topic has general information about food allergies. When you have a food allergy, your body thinks certain foods are trying to harm you.

Health tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition. Giving a child an epinephrine shot. Giving yourself an epinephrine shot.

Learn about food allergies that occur when the bodys immune system overreacts to substances in food you have eaten, triggering an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of food allergy can affect many parts of your body, including your digestive system, skin, and respiratory system.

The first time you eat a food that triggers an allergic reaction, your bodys immune system recognizes the food as a foreign substance (allergen). Your body reacts by developing antibodies against the food.

You have a greater chance of developing food allergies if you have a family history of allergy.

For food allergies, call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have had a severe reaction in the past from the same food and similar symptoms are developing. If you have an allergy kit prescribed by your doctor, give yourself the shot.

Information on food allergy tests.

The best treatment for food allergies is to avoid the food that causes the allergy. When that is not possible, you can use medications such as antihistamines for mild reactions and the medications in an allergy kit for serious reactions.

Food allergies often occur in people who have a family history of asthma, atopic dermatitis, or allergies to pollen, mold, or other substances. These people are said to be atopic, meaning they have an inherited tendency to develop allergic conditions.

Knowing which foods trigger food allergies and avoiding those foods is the best way to prevent allergic reactions. Unfortunately, food allergens are often hidden in sauces, ice creams, baked goods, and other items. If you have food allergies, read food

Read about medications used to treat food allergies.

There is no surgical treatment for food allergies.

Learn about food allergy treatments that are being studied.

A list of resources for information on and treatment of food allergies.