Food Safety
www.foodsafety.gc.ca
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Food Allergies
Food-Related Allergies
Current estimates state that food allergies affect as many as 6 percent of young children and 3 percent to 4 percent of adults.
- Allergy alerts: The following is a list of the most recent public advisories for high-risk food recalls.
- Food allergies: Information about the nine most comment food allergies which are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, soy, milk, eggs, fish (including crustaceans and shellfish), wheat and sulphites.
- Food allergies and intolerances: Learn more about the difference between a "food allergy" and a "food intolerance".
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
Severe allergic reactions occur when the body's immune system strongly reacts to a particular allergenic protein or irritant, such as food, insect stings and medications.
- Food allergies: Information about the nine foods most frequently associated with food allergies and allergic-type reactions.
- General symptoms and treatment: Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death.
Avoiding an Allergic Reaction
There is currently no cure for any food allergy. The only way to prevent a reaction is to totally avoid the specific food.
- Food allergies and minimizing your risk: Most allergic reactions to food are caused by nine categories of foods. Even trace amounts of those foods can cause a severe or life-threatening reaction in some people.
- Be food allergy aware when packing school lunches: Currently, about six percent of children are affected by food allergies.
- Avoiding peanut and peanut derivatives: Peanut and peanut derivatives can often be present in food under a variety of names, for example arachis oil.
- Labelling of foods causing allergies and sensitivities: Hidden sources and alternative names of foods causing allergic reactions can be confusing. This list will help you identify ingredients.
