Experiences with
Food allergy

Check if it's a food allergy

Symptoms of a food allergy can affect any part of the body, including different parts of the body at the same time.

Common symptoms of a food allergy include:

feeling dizzy or lightheaded
itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
swelling of the lips, face and eyes (angioedema)
coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice
sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose
feeling sick or being sick
tummy pain
diarrhoea

You may get symptoms straight after eating the food you're allergic to, or days later.

your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
someone faints and cannot be woken up
a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

you think you or your child may have a food allergy

Causes of food allergy

A food allergy is caused by your immune system overreacting to certain types of food.

It's not clear why this happens, but certain foods are more likely to cause an allergic reaction in some people.

The most common allergic foods include:

cows' milk
eggs
peanuts, soybeans, peas and chickpeas
tree nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios and Brazil nuts
shellfish, such as prawns, crab and lobster
wheat

But you can be allergic to any type of food, including celery, mustard, sesame seeds and lupin flour found in some baked goods.

You have a slightly higher chance of getting a food allergy if you or a close family member have other allergies, asthma or eczema.

Tests for food allergy

You may be referred to a specialist for tests if a GP thinks you have a food allergy.

Tests you may have include:

a skin-prick test (where a drop of liquid containing a food you may be allergic to is put on your skin to see if it reacts)
blood tests
a special diet where you avoid eating the food you might be allergic to, to see if your symptoms get better

You may also be asked to keep a food and symptoms diary to help work out what may be triggering your symptoms.

Treatments for a food allergy

If you have a food allergy, you will not be able to eat the food you're allergic to, including foods where you're allergic to any of the ingredients.

You'll be given medicines to help manage your symptoms or use in case of an emergency.

These include:

antihistamines for mild allergic reactions
emergency medicines called adrenaline auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergic reactions

Your specialist will give you an allergy management plan that will explain how to manage your allergy.

Children with a peanut allergy may have immunotherapy to help their bodies become less sensitive to peanuts, but they should still avoid eating peanuts.

Things you can do if you have a food allergy

There are steps you can take to help manage your food allergy.

check food labels and restaurant menus carefully to make sure they do not contain the food you're allergic to
tell friends, family, nursery, school and work about your allergy
carry 2 adrenaline auto-injectors with you at all times, if you need them
tell staff at restaurants and cafés about your allergy
tell airlines and cabin staff about your allergy before you fly
wipe down surfaces in public before eating

do not eat foods without checking what ingredients are in them first
do not cut foods out of your diet without speaking to a GP

SymptomsCausesDiagnosisMedical treatmentsSelf-care

Symptoms of a food allergy include itchy skin, wheezing, tummy pain and feeling or being sick. It can happen straight after eating food or days later.

Common types of food allergies include allergies to cows' milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and wheat.

A GP will refer you to a specialist if they think you have a food allergy. You may have a skin-prick test, blood tests and go on a special diet.

Treatment for a food allergy depends on how severe it is. Common treatments include medicines such as antihistamines and emergency adrenaline.

You can manage a food allergy by checking food labels carefully, carrying emergency medicine at all times, and telling people about your allergy.