{"id":9030,"date":"2017-05-31T11:30:24","date_gmt":"2017-05-31T10:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=9030"},"modified":"2025-03-13T16:32:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T16:32:29","slug":"common-food-intolerances-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/common-food-intolerances-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are ‘The Big 8’ Food Allergies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are the most common food allergies? There are currently\u00a014 named allergens<\/strong>. By law, anywhere that sells food to customers must label or indicate that one or more of these are present in the foods. This could be on the packaging, labels, or a sign instructing customers to ask staff about allergy information. Labelling requirements are due to become stricter once Natasha’s Law<\/a> comes into effect in 2021, however.<\/p>\n

\"common<\/p>\n

There are 8 allergens<\/strong> in particular that are thought to be responsible for\u00a090% of allergic reactions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

These are known as ‘the big 8 allergens’:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Milk.<\/li>\n
  2. Eggs.<\/li>\n
  3. Fish.<\/li>\n
  4. Crustacean shellfish<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  5. Tree nuts.<\/li>\n
  6. Peanuts.<\/li>\n
  7. Wheat.<\/li>\n
  8. Soybeans.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Living with a food allergy or food intolerance can be challenging; you\u00a0need to be very careful about what\u00a0you\u00a0eat. Often, you need to strictly avoid particular foods or ingredients, especially when eating away from home.\u00a0Anyone can be allergic to anything, but these are the most common culprits and are important to look out for in\u00a0food if you have a known allergy.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Milk Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    Allergies to cow\u2019s milk are very common amongst children and infants. Symptoms generally present themselves in the first 6 months of life. A milk allergy can be triggered by fresh cow\u2019s milk and anything made with milk, such as cream, yogurt, cheese and butter, as well as anything made with milk powder. The majority of adults who have a milk allergy also suffer from asthma.<\/p>\n

    Lactose intolerance is a reaction to the sugar in cow\u2019s milk and in breast milk, and is not the same as a milk allergy.<\/p>\n

    \"milk<\/p>\n

    Avoiding milk is very difficult, as dairy is used in many food products made in Europe and the UK. By law, foods must state if an allergen is present, and will be displayed in bold or capitals. Milk, milk powder, or similar will be displayed clearly. People with a milk allergy can substitute for a plant-based milk, such as coconut, oat, rice, or almond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Egg Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    An allergy to eggs is one of the most common. It can be triggered by any egg products, such as egg white, egg yolk, mayonnaise, mousses, cakes, pastries, dried egg, and egg proteins, such as albumin. People may be allergic to eggs from all types of animals, including hens, ducks and quails.<\/p>\n

    \"egg<\/p>\n

    Eggs are found in a wide range of food products, even in small quantities, so avoiding them can be a challenge.\u00a0Always check the ingredients of food before you buy or eat them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Fish Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    An allergy to fish can be triggered by all species of fish, including salmon, cod, halibut, haddock, tuna and anchovies. It can also be onset\u00a0by food products made with fish sauce, ground anchovies, fish stock and fish gelatine.<\/p>\n

    \"fish<\/p>\n

    You may only be allergic to one specific type of fish but not others, so can still have fish in your diet (which is important). Also, finned fish and shellfish are not from related families, so you can be allergic to one and not the other. Talk to your GP about receiving allergy testing for certain fish if you think this might be the case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Shellfish Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    An allergy to crustaceans, such as lobster, prawns, crab and scampi is also known as a shellfish allergy.<\/p>\n

    \"shellfish<\/p>\n

    People with a crustacean allergy may also suffer from an allergy to molluscs, such as mussels and clams, and fish. But they are not the same thing. Allergies to shellfish can result in a severe anaphylactic shock in some people, so avoiding contact is vital. Shellfish could be present in unsuspecting foods, such as certain condiments that use fish stock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Tree Nut Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    People with a tree-nut allergy often have symptoms triggered by whole nuts. Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, Brazils and pistachios are examples. Ground nuts and nut oils can also trigger a reaction. Nuts can be found in various food products including desserts, biscuits, cakes, breads, salads, pesto and stir-fries.<\/p>\n

    \"tree<\/p>\n

    Note that tree-nuts are different to peanuts, which are a legume and not a nut. But people can be allergic to both. Be sure you check when eating out whether any nut oil is present in your meal. Sometimes chefs may substitute almond oil for peanut, and vice versa, without realising that people can be allergic to one or the other, or both.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Peanut Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    Peanuts are not from the same family as other nuts like almonds. They are a legume, also known as groundnuts. A peanut allergy can be triggered by whole or ground peanuts, as well as groundnut oil and peanut flour. They can be found in cakes, desserts, biscuits, sauces and even curries.<\/p>\n

    \"peanut<\/p>\n

    Peanut allergies are one of the most common food allergies and are prevalent amongst children. Many people with a peanut allergy are also allergic to tree-nuts, sesame seeds and lupin (which are also part of the legume family).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Wheat Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    An allergy to cereals containing gluten is also known as a wheat allergy. It can be caused by wheat, rye, barley and oats, as well as food products that are made using these. Most people have an intolerance to wheat rather than an allergy, but allergies are also common.<\/p>\n

    \"wheat<\/p>\n

    Coeliac disease is not the same as a gluten allergy. It is a digestive condition caused by gluten, and can cause long-term complications if not managed. Avoiding gluten is difficult as it’s present in all sorts of foods. But many stores nowadays are expanding their free-from sections to accommodate people with a gluten intolerance, which is also good news for people with allergies. Be sure to always carefully check the label though, even on products claiming to be free-from.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Soy Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    Soya allergies\u00a0can be triggered by anything made using soybeans. This includes tofu, miso paste, soy sauce and many oriental food products. It is also used in soya flour, soya milk and soya oil.<\/p>\n

    \"Woman<\/p>\n

    Particular care needs to be taken with vegetarian food products, which often use soybeans as a substitute for meat protein. Also note that soybeans are part of the legume family, although it’s believed that the chances of a person with a peanut allergy also having a soybean allergy are no greater than any other allergen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \n
    \n
    \n
    \"expert<\/div>\n

    Need a Course?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Our Food Allergen Awareness Training Course<\/a> will teach you how to comply with the UK’s allergen laws. It is up to date with current allergen legislation in the UK and includes information on Natasha’s Law, due to affect food businesses from 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    What are the remaining allergens?<\/h3>\n

    As mentioned earlier in the article, legally there are 14 common allergens which must be labelled on food. Although not all of these allergens are part of ‘the big 8’, it is still mandatory that food providers inform customers of these allergens – as even those not in ‘the big 8’ can cause equally-serious reactions.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Celery and Celeriac Allergy\"drop<\/h3>\n
    \n

    An allergy to celery is a pollen-related food allergy. It’s often thought to occur in people with seasonal hay fever to birch and\/or mugwort pollen, but it can affect anyone. Celery sticks, celery leaves, celery seeds, celery salt and celery spices can all trigger an allergic reaction.Celeriac is a vegetable from the same species as celery, so allergy sufferers are likely to have an adverse reaction to both. While celery and celeriac allergies are less common than others, they can often trigger a more severe reaction, even as extreme as a fatal anaphylactic shock.<\/p>\n

    \"celery<\/p>\n

    Celery can be hidden in all sorts of foods, so you need to check ingredient lists. The label should state whether any celery is present in the product or whether it was produced in a factory that also handled celery. Look out for:<\/strong><\/p>\n