Food Allergies Questions and Answers

Main Category: Allergy
Article Date: 24 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT


Should I stop eating a food if I think I'm sensitive to it?

Once you have been diagnosed by your GP or a consultant as having a food intolerance, you should avoid the food or foods you react to.

However, if you suspect you have a food intolerance and it hasn't been properly diagnosed, you shouldn't suddenly stop eating a food. Doing this could mean you miss out on some vital nutrients, which isn't good for your health. So you should always seek the help of your GP or a dietician before making major changes to your diet.

What should I do if my child has a food allergy?

If you have a child who has been properly diagnosed with a food allergy, it's especially important that you, and anyone who looks after them, know how to avoid the problem foods and what to do if they have an allergic reaction. This might include giving an adrenaline injection. Schools should have plans to deal with an emergency.

If you think your child has a food allergy, or another type of food intolerance, talk to your GP. Don't cut foods out of your child's diet without advice from your GP or a dietician.

What do I need to know about food allergy if I look after children?

If you look after children, for example in a nursery, crèche or school, it's very important to find out whether any of the children in your care has a food allergy.

If a child has a food allergy, you must be sure that you (and any of your colleagues who might prepare food for the child) know how to avoid the ingredients he or she is allergic to. You must also know what to do if a child has an allergic reaction. This might include giving an adrenaline injection.

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gut with similar symptoms to food intolerance. It affects 8 to 22% of the population and is more common in women. The symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating, excessive wind and irregular bowel movements.

We don't know exactly what causes IBS and how it might be linked to food intolerance. It could be caused by food not being broken down properly in the colon, which might happen when the bacteria naturally present in the gut are disrupted. We don't know why some people have IBS and others don't, but many people who have IBS have a history of food intolerance.

Is schizophrenia related to gluten sensitivity?

Some people have suggested that schizophrenia might be made worse, or even caused, by an abnormal sensitivity to gluten. But although a number of studies have been carried out, the precise causes of schizophrenia aren't clear.

Is autism related to gluten sensitivity?

Some people have suggested that gluten in food might be one of the factors that causes autism. A number of studies have been carried out on this topic, but the results haven't been conclusive and so it's still not clear what role food might play in relation to autism.

Is intolerance to food additives related to hyperactivity in children?

Some parents are concerned that certain food additives may cause behavioural changes in some children. In 1997, the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) commissioned a three-year study to look at what links there might be between certain food additives and behaviour in children. Independent experts agree that it's not possible to draw scientific conclusions from the findings of the study. Therefore, the Agency needs more information and evidence on this topic to help form its advice. It has set up the Working Group on Food Additives and Behaviour in Children to advise on how scientific studies can be designed to examine any links between certain food additives and behaviour in children.

Is intolerance to food additives related to ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more than just hyperactive behaviour. It's a condition made up of a group of mental disorders, which can affect up to 5% of children.

ADHD is linked to a specific pattern of behaviour, such as attention difficulties and hyperactive behaviour, and can be caused by a number of different things, including genetic factors. Children with ADHD often have learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

At the moment, there's no conclusive proof of a connection between particular food additives and ADHD. In July 2000, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals (COT) published a report on reactions to food and food ingredients.

Part of the Committee's research looked at studies that had been carried out on the effects of certain food additives on ADHD. The Committee concluded that, in general, 'some dietary changes, not necessarily the same for all children, could reduce problem behaviour in at least a few children with ADHD'.

Can kiwi fruit cause an allergic reaction?

A number of people have reported reactions to kiwi fruit. Some of these reactions have been severe, especially in children, and the number of people affected appears to be increasing. This may be linked to a general increase in allergic diseases, as well as the growing popularity of this fruit in the UK, particularly among children.

People who react to kiwi fruit should avoid the fruit and any purée or juice made from it. But most people won't have a reaction to kiwi fruit, especially if they have been eating it regularly without any problems.

People who are allergic to kiwi fruit might also react to other fruits, such as banana, mango, apple, avocado, and melon, and they might have hay fever. People with kiwi allergy might also find that they react to latex. So if you have a reaction to kiwi fruit, it's important to talk to your GP. He or she might refer you to an allergy specialist to find out what other things you might be sensitive to.

Kiwi fruit is a good source of vitamin C, potassium and fibre and can be eaten safely by most children. But if your child has other allergies, or if there's a history of food allergies in your family, then it's not a good idea to give your baby kiwi fruit before he or she is six months old. (Ideally you should not introduce any solid foods before six months, unless advised to do so by your GP or health visitor.)

Following the completion of a pilot study on kiwi allergy, the Agency has commissioned a much larger study to find out more about kiwi allergy and why some people are more likely to develop it.

http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk

• Additional
• References
• Citations