Food Reactions and Asthma

Food intolerance, where people experience unpleasant reactions to food, are common but true food allergies when the body’s immune system reacts abnormally to a food, are rare.

 

Symptoms of food allergies can vary widely. You may get symptoms in your mouth

(swelling or tingling), gut (vomiting, diarrhoea), skin (rash, swelling of face) or in

your chest (wheezing, shortness of breath). Your asthma may flare up.

 

Which foods trigger allergic reactions?

Foods that can trigger asthma by way of an allergic reaction include peanuts, nuts,

sesame, fish, shellfish, dairy products and eggs.

 

Some people become wheezy when they eat food containing certain additives.

• The dye tartrazine (E102) is found in many foods and also in several medicines.

        People whose asthma is triggered by tartrazine may also react to aspirin.

• The preservative benzoic acid (E210) found in fruit products and soft drinks can

        also be a trigger.

• Some foods and wine contain histamine or similar chemicals called

        vasoactive amines that can trigger asthma.

• Sodium metabisulphite (E220–227) may also trigger asthma, but not via an

        allergic reaction. It can be found in wine, home-brewed beer, fizzy drinks,

        prepared meats and prepared salads.

 

 If you feel you or your child has a food allergy then you should contact your doctor.

They may refer you to a specialist or an allergy clinic for testing but there is no reliable medicine for food allergies. The only treatment is avoiding the offending food and you may be asked to undergo an Exclusion Diet.

 

The best book on the subject is The Complete Guide to Food Allergy & Intolerance by Professor Jonathan Brostoff, available from AllergyBestBuys.com

Which foods trigger allergic reactions?