How To Avoid Allergens But
Not Life With Food Allergies

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Little-Known Facts

Experience is often considered the best teacher, but it can also foster complacency. As someone who has navigated the complexities of food allergies for years, I thought I knew it all. Managing 17 different food allergies within my family has required diligence and adaptability. However, reading FARE’s Food Allergy Facts and Statistics for the U.S. revealed significant gaps in my knowledge.

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Read Food Labels

Have you ever wondered what’s really inside the food you buy? Some allergens are required to be listed. In the USA Peanuts, Tree nuts (like walnuts, almonds, and pecans), Milk, Eggs, Fish (like salmon, tuna, and cod), Crustacean shellfish (like shrimp, lobster, and crab), Wheat, Soy, Sesame. There is a different list for countries outside the USA.
But here’s the catch: Other allergens, like corn, potatoes, nightshades, and sulfites, are not required to be listed, even though they can still cause problems for some people.

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Labels May Not Be Enough

Food Labels have or don’t have!
All Ingredients: No
Specific Allergens: Yes
“May Contain”: Useless info
Spice or Flavor: Not required to specify but may contain allergens

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“Government efforts to solve problems are well-meaning, but they don’t always hit the mark because of Bureaucracy, conflicting interests, lobbyists, and the sheer scale of the challenge.”

Efforts to improve labeling face challenges due to a long, confusing political and legal process. While transparency on common food allergens is crucial, adding new allergens to labels requires navigating complex regulations.

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Orphan Food Allergies

Nightshades, Meat, Corn …These lesser-known food allergies can significantly impact individuals and their families

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Food Allergies Questions

Questions answered by FoodAllergy.world, but also good questions for Siri and Google Assistant

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Related Reading

• Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE): Comprehensive resources on food allergies, advocacy, and labeling guidelines.
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI): Medical insights and educational materials for allergy sufferers.
• AAAAI Anaphylaxis Interactive Learning Guide Video 0: Review of Anaphylaxis Symptoms and Complete Anaphylaxis Scenarios
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Guidance on safety and public health policies.
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): Research-driven information on allergies, including anaphylaxis.
• EpiPen Official Website: Instructions and safety guidelines for epinephrine auto-injector use.
• Allergy Insider by Thermo Fisher Scientific: Support for lesser-known or “orphan” allergies.
• Food Standards Agency (UK): Information on food labeling laws and allergen safety in the UK.
• Allergy & Asthma Network: Advocacy and patient support focused on allergy management
• The Most Rare Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and Management There are some rare and unusual allergies that affect a small number of individuals worldwide
• Allergen Fact Sheets are a one-stop shop for all your allergen information needs. 
• Allergen Encyclopedia: Search by allergen type or component and by Food, Respiratory, Drugs, Venom, Misc
• Tree Nut Allergy Diet Guide: Includes list of Foods Made With Tree Nuts
• What Spices Should You Avoid With a Nut Allergy?

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