Food Allergens

Food Allergen

Food allergies are an immune system response to certain proteins found in certain foods. When someone with a food allergy ingests that particular food, their immune system mistakenly identifies the food protein as a harmful invader and produces an allergic reaction.

The symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to severe and can include hives, swelling, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and even anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening reaction.

The most common food allergens are:

1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Fish
4. Shellfish | Crustaceans?
5. Tree nuts
6. Peanuts
7. Gluten | Wheat
8. Soy
9. Sulphite | Preservative
10. Celery
11. Molluscs
12. Sesame
13. Lupin
14. Mustard

Celery

This includes the celery stalks, leaves, seeds and the root. Usually found in celery salt, salads, some meat products, soups and stock cubes.

Celery seed, Celery leaf, Celery salt, Celariac or Celeriac, Celery stalk

Vegetable juice, Spice mixes, Soups, vegetable, Marmite, Curry, Bouillon, Processed meat products, Savoury snacks, Sausages, Prepared Salads

Wheat, rye, barley and oats are often found in foods containing flour, some baking powder, batter, breadcrumbs, cakes, couscous, meat products, pasta, pastry, sauces, soups and some fried food.

Wheat, Durum wheat, Semolina, Spelt, Kamut, Eincorn, Faro, Barley, Rye, Oat, Malt, Couscous

Bread, Baked goods, Baking mixes, Pasta, Crackers, Cereals, Condiments, Chocolates, Sauces

Crustaceans

Crabs, lobster, prawns and scampi are crustaceans. Shrimp paste is an allergen in this category that is commonly used in Thai and South-east Asian cooking.

Amphipods, Barnacles, Crabs, Hermit Crabs, Crayfish, Isopods, Lobsters, Mantis Shrimp, Mussel Shrimp, Mysids, Sea Spiders, Shrimp, Prawns

Paella, Chinese products, Thai Curry, Prepared sauces, Soups, Asian Salad, Fried rice, Fish paste, Fish Soup

Eggs

Eggs are found in cakes, some meat products, mayonnaise, mousses, pasta, quiche, sauces and pastries. Some food products are glazed with eggs during cooking.

Albumin, Apovitellin, Cholesterol free egg substitute, Dried egg solids, Dried egg, Egg, Egg white, Egg yolk, Egg wash, Eggnog, Fat substitutes, Globulin, Livetin, Lysozyme, Mayonnaise, Meringue, Meringue powder, Ovalbumin, Ovoglobulin, Ovomucin, Ovomucoid, Ovotransferrin, Ovovitelia, Ovovitellin, Powdered eggs, Silici albuminate, Simplesse, Surimi, Trailblazer, Vitellin, Whole egg

Meringue, Mayonnaise, Marzipan, Marshmallow, Artificial flavouring, Baked goods, Lecithin, Natural flavourings, Nougat, Pasta, Salad dressing, Tartare Sauce, Hollandaise, Cakes, Egg glazed pastry, Some ice cream, Some custard

Fish

You may find fish sauces in pizzas, relishes, salad dressings, stock cubes and Worcestershire sauce.

Anchovies, Bass, Catfish, Cod, Flounder, Grouper, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Herring, Mahi Mahi, Perch, Pike, Pollock, Salmon, Scrod, Swordfish, Sole, Snapper, Tilapia, Trout, Tuna

Barbecue Sauce, Soups, Pizza, Caesar salad and Caesar dressing, Worcestershire sauce, Bouillabaisse, Imitation or artificial fish or shellfish (“sea legs” or “sea sticks,” is one example), Meatloaf, Barbecue sauce, Caponata, a Sicilian eggplant relish, Num Pla, Dips, Gelatine, Relishes

Lupin

Lupin is a flower, but it is also sometimes found in flour and is sometimes used in bread, pastries and pasta.

Lupine, Lupin flour, Lupin seed, Lupin bean

Pastry cases, Pies, Waffles, Pancakes, Crepes, Products containing crumb, Pizzas, Vegetarian meat substitute, Deep-coated vegetables such as onion rings

Milk

Milk is found in dairy products such as butter, cheese, cream, milk powders and yoghurt. Some foods are also glazed with milk during cooking. It’s also commonly found in powdered soups and sauces.

It's important to note that some people may have intolerances or sensitivities to certain foods that are not the same as a true food allergy. If you suspect that you have a food allergy or intolerance, it's best to consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and management.