The Allergy Quiz A Food Allergy Primer Q What are the most common foods that cause allergies?
A Milk, eggs, peas and peanuts, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat and corn. Q Must food be eaten in large amounts to trigger an allergic reaction?
A No. Small amounts of foods can trigger severe life-threatening reactions. Q Can odors of foods trigger major allergic reactions?
A Yes, Peanuts, eggs, and fish, for example, may trigger acute symptoms. Some very sensitive individuals may have a life-threatening reaction after being kissed by someone who has just eaten these foods.
Q Allergies to foods only begin in childhood and only affect children.
A False. Sensitization may occur at any age.
Q Food allergies usually cause little symptoms other than a rash.
A False. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation, chronic nasal inflammation, asthma, hives, atopic dermatitis and headaches.
Q Is the best treatment for food allergy is elimination of these foods from the diet?
A True. Beware of hidden sources of allergens, i.e. peanut butter in chili, peanuts in regular M&M's. Search for suitable alternatives to fill in the diet. Many food allergies can be lost with time. This is generally not true with nuts, fish and eggs. Q
Can cooking the food one is allergic to make it more tolerable?
A Yes, mainly for fruits and vegetables: not for shrimp, fish or nuts. Q Can food additives cause acute allergic reactions?
A yes, sodium metabisulfite can be associated with anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal disturbances or even urticaria. | 
