Food Reactions and Asthma
You may find you become wheezy or even have an asthma flare up after eating certain foods.
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 nitrates and sulphites used as preservatives and 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.