Heinz - Tinytums

Food Allergies

What is Food Allergy?

Food Allergy
Food allergies are rare and happen when a harmless food is wrongly interpreted by the immune system as being harmful. The symptoms of allergy (such as tingling lips, and rashes) are due to the efforts of the immune system in tackling the food. In some cases the reaction is severe, and affected individuals must avoid the problem food.

Food Intolerance
Food intolerance covers non-allergic problems with foods. There are many reasons why certain individuals cannot tolerate foods or food components.

What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
Some people think the terms 'food allergy' and 'food intolerance' mean the same thing but they don’t. A food intolerance is an adverse, food induced reaction that does not involve the immune system. Lactose intolerance is one example of a food intolerance. Someone with a lactose intolerance lacks an enzyme that is needed to digest lactose (milk sugar). When they consume milk products, symptoms such as gas, bloating and abdominal pain occur.

Who’s at Risk?  
Some families are more prone to food allergies and intolerances than others and are described as atopic. This means they are more likely to develop conditions such as asthma or eczema. However, being in an atopic family doesn’t automatically mean that your child will be affected, but it does mean that the risk of developing an allergy is greater. 

Diagnosis and Treatment
It’s best to speak to your GP if you think your child may have a food allergy. They will discuss the symptoms and the foods that you are giving. Sometimes it’s obvious what is causing the problem. If it’s not clear, your doctor may refer you to someone more specialised, and sometimes it’s necessary to see a dietitian to get advice on avoiding certain foods and replacing the nutrients that may be missing.

All Heinz and Farley’s baby foods carry information in the form of a tick list, which identifies those varieties which are vegetarian, milk-free, egg-free and those suitable for a gluten-free diet. 

You can get additional information from various self-help groups and organisations:

National Eczema Society
163 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 1BU
www.eczema.org

The Anaphylaxis Campaign
www.anaphylaxis.org.uk