By United Supermarkets Dietitian Team
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is when a person has an immune response to a specific protein in a food item. The body will identify this protein strand as harmful. Antibodies are then released to fight the unrecognizable substance which induces an allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions will range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include itchy skin, tingling in the mouth, swelling in the throat, tongue, or face, and pain in the abdominal area. Severe or anaphylactic symptoms are trouble breathing, elevated heart rate, low blood pressure, or unconsciousness.
These symptoms can happen immediately after consuming the food or minutes to hours later. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.
The top 9 most common allergies
As of January 1, 2023, there are now 9 major food allergens. These listed are the most common food allergies that people have: wheat, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, and sesame.
Identifying food allergens on a label
If you or someone you live with has an allergy, shopping for allergen-free food can be challenging. There are three places for food packaging where allergens can be found. It is important to read the label thoroughly.
The first place to check is the ingredients. The ingredients will list individual ingredients in the order that they were used in the food item. They will either be listed as a main ingredient or as sub-ingredient, in parentheses. For example, “Macaroni noodles (wheat flour, soybean oil, etc.).”
At the end of the ingredient list, there is a line that says “Contains.” This is the second place to find allergens. The “contains” segment identifies what allergens are contained within that food. For example, “Contains: wheat, egg, and sesame.”
In addition to looking at the ingredients list, check for the phrase “produced in a facility with…” This is the final place to look for allergens. The phrase “produced in a facility with…” will list possible allergens that could have been cross contaminated within the food during the production phase. This is helpful for those who are highly sensitive to an allergen even in trace amounts.
If all three of these places have been checked and the allergen you are looking for is not listed, then the item is safe to eat.
Food allergies can be scary, especially for those who experience severe reactions. It is important to read food labels thoroughly and to stay up to date on new food allergens.
Black Eyed Pea Pico De Gallo
What You Need
1 can black eyed peas
1 pkg. fresh cut pico de gallo
Salt and pepper as desired
How It’s Made
1. Drain and rinse black eyed peas.
2. In a large bowl mix together the black eyed peas and pico de gallo.
3. Serve with Beanitos chips.
