A food allergy is an immune response to a particular protein in a food. To qualify as an allergen, the food must be normally harmless for most people.
It is important to know that eight major foods account for 90% of allergic reactions: milk, tree nuts, eggs, peanuts, fish, wheat, shellfish, and soybeans.
Food allergy symptoms can include a red rash, swollen throat, or other parts of the body, wheezing, trouble breathing, tingling in hands and feet, and some signs of shock.
Allergies are different from food sensitivities and intolerances. Food sensitivities typically trigger a subtle immune response (including fatigue, joint pain, rashes, and so on). And with food intolerance, the effects are often exclusively gastrointestinal.
Food additives can trigger allergic reactions too. This includes additives like FD&C Yellow No. 5, the preservatives BHA and BHT, and the sweetener aspartame to name a few.
Always listen to your body and be aware of how the food you eat can affect you.