The Many Benefits Of Allergy Free Foods
Having a food allergy brings with it the knowledge of how critical it is to avoid the food or foods that one has an allergic reaction to. In just a matter of minutes after consuming a food allergen, a life-endangering reaction can take place. Allergens in foodstuffs are not always obvious, and therefore not always easy to avoid. Enjoying the benefits of allergy free foods means knowing for certain that there will be no surprises in the foods you eat.
It is estimated that two percent of adults and from four to eight percent of children suffer from food allergies. Also, the number of younger people who have them seems to be increasing. Approximately 30,000 Americans each year are taken to hospital emergency rooms because of severe food allergy reactions. So, it is very important to closely manage this condition, and the best defense is avoidance of the substance that causes an allergic reaction.
An allergic reaction to food will usually take place within an hour of eating it, and sometimes in only minutes. An itching in the mouth or elsewhere is one of the milder symptoms, but reactions can be very serious, as in anaphylactic shock, and even fatal if not treated soon enough. Unfortunately, while some food allergies can be outgrown, there is no way to cure them.
Approximately 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by eight foods. These are fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, egg, milk, tree nuts and peanuts. Obviously, one can fairly easily avoid some of them, such as shellfish or fish. Others, however, being included as ingredients in other products, are less obvious. Wheat, egg, milk and soy are used widely in many different products. Even foods such as chocolate candy and Asian condiments may include peanuts, a major allergen for many.
An important United States law was passed in 2004, known as FALCPA. This act required food companies to clearly state on their labels if the product includes any of the 8 major allergy-causing substances. However, the law did not require the manufacturers to include information regarding possible cross-contamination of foods processed by equipment used for several different types of foods, perhaps including known allergens.
Cross-contact statements are being including by some manufacturers on their labels voluntarily, but there is still the potential for allergic problems to be incurred when buying food items manufactured for the general population of consumers. It may take only a very small amount of an allergen to cause serious problems for someone sensitive to it. Foods processed specifically with the needs of the food allergy sufferer in mind will have far less probability of containing unwanted allergens.
When in doubt about the safety of a particular food with regard to allergens, one can contact the manufacturer with questions concerning ingredients or cross-contamination. Foods produced by companies focused on allergen-free products may provide a higher degree of assurance that their foods are safe. One of the benefits of allergy free foods is, along with physical safety, greater peace of mind in knowing that you and your family are at lower risk for food allergic reactions.
Learn more on casein-free diets for autism and gluten-free diets for autism.
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