6 Food Allergy Myths That Could Put You at Risk
Food allergies are often misunderstood, and misinformation can lead to dangerous assumptions.?
Whether managing allergies yourself or looking out for a loved one, it’s time to separate fact from fiction. As an allergist doctor with over thirty years of experience, here are six of the most common myths about food allergies I see—and the truths that could save lives.
1. "You Have to Eat a Lot to Have a Reaction"
This myth is not just wrong—it’s dangerous.?
Even a tiny amount of an allergen can trigger a severe reaction, including anaphylaxis. I’ve seen patients who’ve taken a single bite of a peanut butter sandwich or a sip of milk that led to full-body hives, difficulty breathing, and a sense of impending doom. Anaphylaxis is the worst of these reactions, and I’ve seen it occur in one in a thousand patients who eat the wrong food.
If you suspect a food allergy, you should consult an allergist for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) testing and a thorough food history review.?
If your test is positive with an elevated IgE, that does not necessarily mean you have a food allergy, but it’s a good sign. This is why you must also look at your food history to see if a correlation exists between your eating and your IgE. If there is one, your allergist will have you eliminate that from your diet until your IgE levels decrease.
Always take reported allergies seriously—whether it's your child, a friend, or yourself.
2. "You Can Be Allergic to Everything"
There is no such thing as a hidden food allergy, and it is extremely rare to be allergic to every food.
More often, people confuse food allergies with intolerances or misinterpret lab results. If you have an allergy to a food, you should be able to document symptoms when you eat it. If you’re not experiencing symptoms after eating a food, you likely don’t have a true allergy to it.
In my experience, 60% of the time somebody comes in for allergy testing we find no food allergies but intolerances instead. Many patients simply have GI trouble, vasomotor rhinitis (chronic runny nose), or a combination of other intolerances.
This is why I stress working with a specialist who can help you identify the actual culprits instead of shooting in the dark and hoping for success.
3. "Red Meat Allergy (Alpha-Gal) Is Overhyped"
Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a delayed allergy to red meat triggered by tick bites, is increasingly being recognized, but social media has often exaggerated its risks beyond scientific evidence.
Alpha-Gal can have some pretty severe reactions, such as hives and anaphylaxis, leading you to the emergency room. But if you’re tested and your lab values are not too elevated (like 0.8.), that doesn't necessarily mean that it's the alpha-gal red meat that you can't tolerate. The more significant reactions range from people who have lab numbers of 15 to 20.
That’s a significant difference.
So, rest assured, if you have slightly elevated levels of alpha-gal antibodies and you haven’t had a reaction, you may not need to avoid red meat entirely.
But social media groups on Facebook won’t tell you that. In many cases, these groups overreact to the alpha-gal syndrome, frequently making exaggerated and unverifiable claims about trace amounts of substances that aren’t even red meat.
My advice: consult your allergist before making sweeping dietary changes based on fear or misinformation.
4. "Restaurants Will Always Inform You About Allergens"
If you think asking your waiter guarantees allergen safety, think again.
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Restaurant staff might not know all the ingredients in a dish or understand how cross-contamination works. For instance, peanut butter is sometimes used to thicken spaghetti sauce, but it may not be listed on the menu.?
Asking the waiter will not guarantee that your food is safe to eat.
Instead of relying solely on verbal assurances, educate yourself on hidden sources of allergens so you know what foods to avoid at restaurants.?
Here are the top sources I recommend my patients look at before going out to eat:?
When dining out, communicate clearly with the restaurant about your allergy, do your research ahead of time, and consider sticking to places with dedicated allergy protocols.
5. "Accidental Ingestion Risks Decrease with Age"
Sadly, fatalities due to food allergies are higher in older groups compared to younger ones.
People stop reading labels as they get older and get sloppy. Even if you’re careful, sometimes the company you buy food from changes ingredients without notifying you, making your food deadly.
That’s why I tell my patients there are three medications to use for anaphylaxis: epinephrine, epinephrine, and epinephrine. Always carry your EpiPens with you, read the labels, and never let your guard down.
Complacency kills while being vigilant saves lives.
6. "There’s Nothing You Can Do About Food Allergies"
Advances in allergy treatments are giving hope to millions who suffer from food allergens, meaning avoidance is not your only option.
One major treatment I recommend is Xolair (omalizumab). It blocks IgE, the antibody responsible for allergic reactions, with an 85-90% success rate. It was approved by the FDA over six months ago as a monotherapy for kids who have several food allergies.
Amazingly, there are no side effects to Xolair as of the current research.?
The other treatment to help with food allergens is oral immunotherapy (OIT). It involves gradually introducing small doses of the allergenic food under a doctor’s supervision. If someone’s allergic to peanut butter, a doctor will give a small dose as a base the first day, and if they respond well, the dose will increase a small amount the next time, over and over, until they can tolerate larger quantities without issue.?
With a successful OIT treatment, which can be paired with Xolair to make the process safer, patients can develop a tolerance to the allergen over time.
Turning Awareness Into Action
If you or a loved one has a food allergy, take these steps:
Food allergies are serious, but with accurate information and proactive care, they can be effectively managed. Don't let myths put you at risk—empower yourself with the truth.
Very helpful. thank you very much for sharing with us.