8 Common Food Allergens You Can't Ignore ...

Peanuts get a lot of attention in the food allergy community. One of the most common food allergens, peanuts are present in many items you wouldn’t think about. Of course, peanut butter is on the list, but many Oriental foods, baked goods and candy contain peanuts as well. In addition to avoiding peanuts themselves, a peanut allergy also means you can’t have anything made with peanut oil. Some restaurants use peanut oil (also known as groundnut oil) so eating out requires caution.

No, you aren’t always allergic to tree nuts just because you’re allergic to peanuts. Technically, peanuts are a legume, so they don’t fall in the same class as tree nuts. That being said, some people are allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts. Examples of tree nuts include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts. In addition to avoiding the nuts and their oils, read labels carefully to be sure desserts, frozen meals, ice cream, alcohol and trail mix don’t have any tree nuts.

An allergy to wheat means avoiding a large majority of grain products, including bread, crackers, cereal and bagels. The scary thing about a wheat allergy is that many foods are made with by-products of wheat or are processed in facilities that also process wheat foods. For example, oatmeal is wheat-free, but is often grown and transported with wheat, thereby contaminating it. Your best bet is to buy foods clearly labeled as gluten-free or wheat-free. Gluten is also found in rye and barley, but gluten-free foods are safe for a wheat allergy diet.

A milk allergy is concerning in women because dairy foods are the prime source of calcium. If you’re allergic to milk, you have to be sure you’re getting calcium from other foods, such as spinach. A supplement is also a good way to get enough each day. A milk allergy means avoiding liquid milk, ice cream, sour cream, butter, cheese and anything made with these foods.

Soy is a particularly hard food allergy to navigate because soy is hidden in many foods. Check the labels carefully and look for a caution warning you that the item contains or may contain soy. These are foods to avoid at all costs. They include edamame, tofu, soy milk products, soy nuts, soy sauce, tamari and textured vegetable protein. Oriental cuisine often contains soy, so it’s a good idea to choose alternate meals. Some types of peanut butter, processed meats, sauces, condiments, crackers and energy bars contain soy as well.

Fish is an easier food allergy to deal with because fish doesn’t hide in as many foods, so it’s pretty easy to avoid. Clearly, you can’t eat any type of fresh, frozen or canned fish. Some people are allergic to a specific species of fish, but extensive allergy testing under the supervision of a doctor is vital before you eat a different kind. Caesar dressing, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, caponata and imitation crab are other items that sometimes contain fish.

A shellfish allergy is different from a general fish allergy, though some people suffer from both. Shellfish include shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, scallops, oysters and mussels and need to be stricken from your meal plans. Fish stock and seafood flavoring may contain shellfish as well.

An allergy to eggs can be a bit difficult to work around. Obviously, you can’t eat eggs, but you’ll also have to avoid anything that contains eggs. This includes many kinds of cookies, cake and other yummy baked treats. Eggs also show up in some kinds of mayonnaise, marshmallows, pasta, egg substitutes and candy. Again, reading labels is vital to prevent a life-threatening reaction.

Do you have a food allergy? My son has a gluten intolerance, but must follow an allergy diet to avoid becoming violently ill. Eating in restaurants in hard and he really misses pizza in the cafeteria at school. How do you deal with a food allergy? One of my go to sources is the Food Allergy Research and Education website.