A food allergy is caused when the body's immune system
mistakes an ingredient in food-usually a protein-as
harmful and creates a defense system (special compounds called
antibodies) to fight it. An allergic reaction occurs when the
antibodies are battling an "invading" food protein. Although a
person could have an allergy to almost any food, the following
foods account for almost 90 percent of all food-related allergic
reactions:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts (such as cashews and walnuts)
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Wheat
What do I do now?
Now that you know you have a food allergy, you might wonder how you
can eliminate from your diet the foods that trigger a reaction.
Here is some helpful information about foods to avoid if you have a
food allergy. If you have questions or need help eliminating
certain foods from your diet, ask your doctor or a registered
dietitian.
NOTE: Be sure to talk to your doctor or a registered
dietitian before eliminating any food from your diet or beginning a
special diet. You may need to adjust your meal plan or take a
nutritional supplement to replace any nutrients lost by eliminating
your trigger foods. In addition, the lists of foods and products
that appear here are intended to provide examples and are NOT
complete. Seek the advice of your doctor or dietitian for a more
comprehensive list of foods to avoid for your specific allergy.
Milk allergy diet
If you have an allergy to milk,
you will need to remove milk and other dairy products made with
milk from your diet. Dairy products are a good source of calcium
and Vitamin D, so it's important that you eat other foods
rich in these nutrients, such as broccoli, spinach and soy
products.
Always check the label ingredients before you use a product.
Many processed or prepared foods contain milk. In addition, check
the label each time you use the product. Manufacturers occasionally
change recipes, and a trigger food may be added to the new
recipe.
Examples of milk products and foods containing milk
Milk/dairy products:
- Milk and milk solids
- Non-fat, skim milk or powdered milk and milk solids
- Buttermilk
- Evaporated milk
- Yogurt
- Cream, cream cheese, sour cream
- Cheese, cheese powder or cheese sauce
- Butter, butter fat, artificial butter flavor
- Curds
- Whey and whey products
- Cottage cheese
Foods containing milk/milk products:
- Au gratin foods
- Chocolate and cream candy
- Coffee creamers
- Creamed or scalloped foods
- Custard
- Nougat
- Ice cream
- Malted milk
- Margarines (some, check the label)
- Many puddings
- White sauces