About food allergy

Food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to an ingredient that is harmless for most people, such as milk, nuts, egg or fish. The food that causes the response is known as an allergen.

The function of the immune system is to prevent harm to the body. It normally does
this by fighting off invaders but in certain
people who are prone to allergy, the
immune system mistakenly
registers harmless foods or
substances as a threat.

The level of sensitivity varies
from person to person, and an
individual’s reactions may vary
from one day to the
next. Factors influencing
severity can
include illness, stress, alcohol
consumption and exercise.
In some cases severe symptoms
may be caused by the tiniest
trace of the food.

Top tip

Any oil that has previously been used to cook products containing nuts may contain traces of nut proteins.