Many people are sensitive to certain foods and need to exclude them from their diet to avoid unpleasant and sometimes dangerous reactions. People can often confuse allergies and intolerances but there is an important difference.  

A food allergy is where your immune system reacts to a certain food. Allergies are often mild but can be life threatening for some people

An allergy is when the body's immune system reacts to a food (or other substance such as pollen or medications). An allergy can be immediate (IgE) or delayed (Non-IgE) and symptoms vary with both. 

Immediate IgE allergy symptoms occur within minutes to 2 hours of ingesting the allergen. Symptoms may include itchy rash, redness or hives (nettle rash), swelling, runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, vomiting, swallowing and/or breathing difficulties (anaphylaxis). 

Delayed non-IgE allergy symptoms occur 2-48 hours after ingesting the allergen. Symptoms may include diarrhoea, constipation, reflux, profuse vomiting, mucous / blood in stools, nausea, abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating, painful wind and/or eczema. 

Common allergens include: milk, egg, soya, wheat, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and shellfish.  

For more information on food allergies please visit Allergy UK.  

A food intolerance is where you have difficulty digesting certain foods. Like allergies, they can also make you feel unwell, however this does not involve your immune system.  

Some conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), or Coeliac Disease may also be causing your symptoms. For more information please visit Gastroenterology.  

The British Dietetics Association has a helpful fact sheet which further explains the difference between food allergies and intolerances and how these can be managed. 

If you think you have a food allergy or intolerance and need support managing your diet, please discuss this with your GP first, who may be able to refer into our team if appropriate. If you are having a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis, seek emergency medical attention. 

There are many commercial allergy and intolerance tests available but these should be used with caution as many have not been scientifically proven to be accurate. The British Dietetics Association has a very helpful fact sheet explaining these tests.