People with food allergies have an allergic reaction when they come in contact with certain foods. This happens because their immune system overreacts to the proteins in that food. Twelve million people in the United States have food allergies.

Eight kinds of food cause most food allergies:

Cow's milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Wheat
Soy
Fish
Shellfish
Tree nuts

Signs of a food allergy include:

A rash, or red, itchy skin
Stuffy or itchy nose, sneezing, or itchy and teary eyes
Vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea
Angioedema or swelling

Some people with food allergies can have a serious reaction called anaphylaxis.
Signs of this kind of reaction include:

Hoarseness, throat tightness or a lump in the throat
Wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing
Tingling in the hands or feet, lips or scalp

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

More Information about Food Allergy

Food Allergy Statistics
Conditions Related to Food Allergy
Food Allergies and Reactions (PDF)
Food Allergies and Reactions (Español) (PDF)
Food Allergy-Free Holiday Recipes
Referral Guidelines - Food Allergy