Food Allergies/Food Intolerances Meeting your dietary needs

What is a food allergy? An abnormal immune system response to a food Histamine is released by the body which triggers an inflammatory reaction in the digestive tract, skin, nose lungs or throat Most likely a substance that is normally harmless to other people in a similar amount

What are some common foods people are allergic to? Wheat Peanuts Other nuts Shellfish ◦Shrimp ◦Crayfish ◦Lobster ◦Crab ◦Mussels ◦Oysters Eggs Chocolate Citrus Fruit Milk Strawberries …..etc.

Who gets food allergies? Allergies often run in families People can have food allergies in adulthood as well Babies and Children are the most vulnerable to food allergies New foods should be introduced slowly Some food allergies leave when children grow older and their immune system matures

How many people have food allergies? A small percentage of people are affected by food allergies

Symptoms of food allergies Skin rash Vomiting Wheezing Runny nose Anaphylactic shock ◦Throat swells ◦Breathing is difficult Gasping for breath Abdominal pain Diarrhea Itchy mouth

Testing for food allergies Scratch Test Blood Test Double-Blind Food Test

Treatment EpiPen Exclusion Diet-avoiding the “trigger” foods ◦Can be difficult

Helping a Friend Do’sDon’t Learn about foods to avoid Ask about symptoms Find out about medications Read labels Wash hands Pressure friends to try foods Ignore the symptoms of a reaction Exclude a friend because of an allergy Allow others to tease

Food Intolerance and Common Examples of intolerances Occurs when the body fails to produce an enzyme needed to digest certain foods Milk and other dairy products Caffeine Gluten

Food Intolerance Symptoms Bloating Gas Nausea

Naturally poisonous foods if not prepared/cooked correctly Kidney Beans Morel Mushrooms Fugu

Kidney Beans Contains a high level of lectin-a toxin Eating raw or undercooked kidney beans can lead to extreme abdominal pain

Morel Mushrooms Contain helvellic acid When cooked the acid is destroyed Make sure you only eat mushrooms that you have identified

Fugu(Blowfish) Delicacy in Japan Contains a toxin that is 270x’s more toxic than cyanide Specially trained chefs have a special license to prepare this fish The chef must remove the glands containing the toxin If the toxin is eaten you will die

Who has dietary requirements? Babies Elderly Religion Culture Health/Physical Conditions Allergies Intolerances Pregnant Personal Taste

Questions to Answer How can restaurants let consumers know whether or not there dishes are prepared with allergy prone foods on the menu? Why should you self-advocate for your dietary needs? Where can you find recipes for different dietary needs? What are some examples of foods that can be substituted to meet dietary requirements? Why is it important to manage the introduction of foods to children?

Lunch Menu Analysis Look over the lunch menu for October Using the list of groups with the most common allergies-Peanuts and Tree nuts, Dairy, Eggs, and Gluten. List two options available to each group. What are 2 ways the menu is accommodating to these different dietary groups? What are 2 ways the menu could be improved to meet needs of people with dietary requirements?