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A Closer Look at Food Allergies Facts and Fallacies

Quite a few misconceptions exist about food allergies and some can cause harm to those who believe them. People may do a little research and assume they have a certain food allergy and unnecessarily make changes to their diet or lifestyle, with some of those changes being quite harmful. Do you truly understand what a food allergy is? Read on for some of the fallacies and facts surrounding food allergies:

1. At least 20% or more of the population in this country assume they have a food allergy and chances are they are … wrong! What millions of people perceive as a food allergy is actually just an intolerance. Only about 3-5% of this country's population truly has food allergies. Knowing the difference between food intolerance and an allergy is important because the latter can be life threatening if not handled properly whereas the former is more of an inconvenience. Only proper testing through a doctor can accurately gauge which one you may have.

2. Children with food allergies do outgrow them eventually. This statement is both true and false. With some food allergies like milk, soy and eggs, body maturity does tend to take care of these things so as an adult you can enjoy products with these ingredients. However, there are a few food allergies such as those to shellfish and tree nuts that do carry over into adulthood.

3. With the new laws regarding food labeling, people with food allergies do not have to be as diligent. This is both true and false. While the new laws regarding food labeling do address the majority of ingredients that cause allergies, there is that small percentage that is still not covered. So if you are among the minority with odd food allergies, the new labeling laws are not going to be as effective for you. You have to arm yourself with the information yourself - i.e. the different forms your food allergens could hide in - to protect your health.

4. All food allergies start in childhood. This is false! While it is true that the majority of food allergies present themselves during childhood, many adults do still develop food allergies after a lifetime of eating a particular food item, with shellfish being most prevalent. Chemical changes in the body or outside environmental issues could be possible culprits for adult onset of food allergies.

5. If I break out in hives, then I have a food allergy. This is absolutely false. There are a number of things that can cause hives such as drug interactions, bacterial or viral infections, bug bites and even exposure to extreme heat or cold. Hives are just one small symptom out of many that are attributed to food allergic reactions.

6. Children with food allergies don't have many rights when it comes to special food accommodations at school. This is false. Every child has a right to safe public education and part of that safety is taking proper precautions and making allowances for food allergies. For this reason, many schools now ban peanut products because children have died from simple exposure to them. Should you have a child with food allergies, you have every right to work with the school to create a plan of action to ensure the health and safety of your child.

There are many other misconceptions surrounding food allergies. Only be arming yourself with knowledge and the support of your doctor can you banish the myths and lead people on the right educational path about food allergies.