An Unusual Reaction

A food allergy is your body's immune system experiencing an unusual reaction to specific foods, with the symptoms ranging from something mild to the very serious.

The reaction occurs when the body mistakenly treats the proteins in food as a threat and releases chemicals to defend itself which then causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Any type of food can cause an allergic reaction but there are 8 main types which account for the majority of all food related allergies. These include:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Wheat
• Soy

Common symptoms of food allergies can include itching, rashes, swelling of the face, coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches and in some more serious cases anaphylaxis.

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction to food is to identify which foods are causing your symptoms so you can adapt your lifestyle to avoid them. The safest way to identify those foods is by using a food allergy test.

If you think you or your child might have an allergy to certain food groups the Imutest home allergy test kits are a quick and easy way to find out if your symptoms are being triggered by a food allergy.

If your results are positive we recommend you visit your GP or a qualified nutritionist to discuss your results and how to manage your food allergy with confidence. You shouldn't change your diet without the advice of a healthcare professional.