9 common allergens make up about 90% of all food allergies. Did you know that 5% of adults and 8% of children have a food allergy? Food allergies are very common, and research says they are only going to continue increasing in prevalence. Federal law requires companies to proclaim if their product(s) contain allergen(s). Check the back of the package under the ingredients it will say, “CONTAINS:…” a certain allergen if it is present.

Food allergies occur when the immune system reacts negatively to proteins within the food. At the current time, there are 8 most common allergens at : milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, wheat, soybeans, shellfish, fish, and sesame. These allergic reactions cause mild symptoms like lip swelling and hives, to life threatening symptoms such as anaphylaxis and other respiratory problems. Although treatment can be administered to patients with the reactions, there is no cure yet. To prevent food allergy outbreaks, the FDA enforces regulations on food processing companies, requiring them to list ingredients on the package and any allergens associated. It is also important to note that food allergies and food intolerances are different and if you have questions, please speak with your healthcare provider

If you are looking to steer clear of a particular allergen, look for out tags. These allergen tags have been identified by the manufacturer as that particular allergen is not in the product. With that in mind, another way to identify if the allergen is not in the ingredient list, is to check the “contains:” statement listed right under the “ingredient list”.