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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIt\u2019s thought that an estimated two million people in the UK<\/a> are suffering from a diagnosed food allergy and a further 600,000 with coeliac disease. The symptoms of food intolerance vary greatly and are often similar to other common conditions. As such, it\u2019s easy to misdiagnose and this makes it virtually impossible to define exactly how many people in the UK are affected, but it is a common issue that is thought to be on the rise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this section, we\u2019ll look into three examples of food hypersensitivities in more detail – food allergies, food intolerances and coeliac disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A food allergy is an immune system reaction by the body against a specific ingredient that the person has consumed, causing an allergic reaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An allergic reaction can be triggered by eating even just a trace of the ingredient or food. The most common symptoms are an itchy mouth and throat, a red rash and swelling of the face. These are likely to occur rapidly after eating the allergenic food. In serious cases, however, contact with a food allergen can cause a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other reactions include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people find their food allergy is easy to manage as their reactions are mild and can be kept under control by making careful food choices. For others, however, their food allergy can be life-threatening, and they need to seriously consider what they are eating on a daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n Any food has the ability to cause an allergic reaction, however, allergies to certain foods are more common than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are 14 named allergens that legally must be declared if they are used as an ingredient in a food product.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you remember the 14 named allergens, we have a free downloadable poster for you to use or display in your workplace. You can find it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Food Allergen Awareness Training<\/a> and Anaphylaxis Awareness<\/a> courses are designed to ensure learners have a thorough understanding of allergens and help food handlers identify and label allergens correctly in order to comply with allergen laws and keep customers safe. If you work in the manufacturing industry, our Food Allergens in Manufacturing<\/a> course will be more suited to your food business.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A food intolerance is defined as having difficulty digesting certain foods, resulting in an adverse physical reaction to them if they are eaten. While this reaction can be unpleasant, a food intolerance is not life threatening but should nonetheless be taken seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People who suffer from food intolerances often don\u2019t create enough of a particular enzyme that the digestive system requires in order to successfully break down certain foods. This is what causes the unpleasant symptoms that occur from consuming the offending food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any kind of food can cause intolerance. However, there are certain foods that more commonly cause food intolerances than others, such as lactose, gluten and certain additives or chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n Common symptoms of a food intolerance include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These symptoms typically present themselves over a short period of time \u2013 for example, a few hours after eating the food \u2013 but often only arise if large amounts of the offending food is consumed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While both conditions should be treated seriously, it\u2019s crucial to remember that a food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy<\/strong>, which can be life threatening and triggered by trace amounts of the allergen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, check out our article: “What is a Food Intolerance?<\/a>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coeliac disease is a serious illness where the body\u2019s immune system attacks its own tissue when gluten is ingested. This adverse reaction by the body to gluten causes damage to the lining of the small intestine and disrupts the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gluten is a protein that is found in three types of cereals: wheat, barley and rye. It is also found in any food product made using any of these three cereals, for example, pasta, bread, cakes, ready-made meals, sauces and beer.<\/p>\n\n\n Common symptoms of coeliac disease include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the symptoms may be similar, it\u2019s important to note that coeliac disease is neither an allergy nor an intolerance to gluten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Following a gluten-free diet is currently the only way to manage the symptoms of coeliac disease and prevent any long-term damage to the body. This is because people suffering from coeliac disease cannot tolerate even small amounts of gluten, whereas people who have a gluten intolerance may be able to handle trace amounts without causing symptoms. For more information on which foods contain gluten, check out our article, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope you\u2019ve found this article on food hypersensitivities informative and helpful. If you have any further questions, or wish to find out more information on the topics covered in this article, please don\u2019t hesitate to get in touch with us at High Speed Training!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Food hypersensitivity is a blanket term used to describe an adverse reaction to food. We provide guidance on some examples of food hypersensitivities here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":64730,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[83],"class_list":["post-64685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-hygiene","tag-food-allergens"],"acf":{"schema_disabled":false,"schema_properties_FAQPage_question_answer":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_tools":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_supplies":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_steps":null,"schema_properties_WebPage_cssSelector":null,"schema_sameAs_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_override":false},"yoast_head":"\n
\n\n\n\nFood Hypersensitivity Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Food Allergies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\n<\/div>\nNeed a Course?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Food Intolerances<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Coeliac Disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFurther Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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