Definition

A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. Allergies are distinct from other adverse responses to food, such as food poisoning.

In extreme cases a food allergy can lead to rapid incapacitation and even death.

The Allergic Response

These kinds of allergic reactions occur when the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as harmful. Some proteins or fragments of proteins are resistant to digestion and those that are not broken down in the digestive process are tagged by the Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These tags fool the immune system into thinking that the protein is harmful. The immune system, thinking the individual is under attack, triggers an allergic reaction. These reactions can range from mild to severe. Allergic responses include dermatitis, gastrointestinal and respiratory distress, including life-threatening anaphylactic responses that require immediate emergency intervention.