Article written by Hélène Baribeau, nutritionist

A food allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to food that is normally harmless. According to a recent publication, food allergies affect 5 to 6% of children. Peanut allergy is said to be the most common. Children are more likely to develop a food allergy until they are 2 years old; however, some allergies such as milk, egg and soy (soy) may go away with age. More severe allergies that can lead to anaphylactic reactions (peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish) usually persist into adulthood.

Children most at risk of having a food allergy are those who already have a food allergy, suffer from eczema, hives, asthma or hay fever or have a family history of allergy (food or otherwise). . The reaction to a food allergen can be immediate or delayed. Symptoms associated with a food allergy can appear within minutes, hours and occasionally days after ingestion of an allergen.

The most common allergy symptoms

• Eczema
• Urticaria
• Swollen red patches
• Tears
• Irritability
• Difficulty sleeping
• A rapid change in general condition
• Vomitings
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Stunted growth or insufficient weight gain
• Asthma or difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat

What are the allergenic foods?

In Canada, the 10 foods that are considered the allergens responsible for the majority of allergic reactions are peanuts, wheat, tree nuts, seafood (fish, shellfish), eggs, milk, soy ( soy), sesame seeds, sulphites and mustard.