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Help! I am allergic to chocolate – A look at food allergies
If you love chocolate but develop symptoms of fever, throat swelling, and difficulty breathing, then you may have a “chocolate allergy.” A true cocoa allergy is extremely rare because few people are actually allergic to chocolate. In most cases, reactions to chocolate are the result of a food intolerance or allergy to an ingredient in chocolate. People may be allergic to one or more food additives used in some chocolate products. Common food allergy triggers in chocolate products include cow's milk, nuts, wheat or gluten, soy and corn. Reactions to chocolate can include headaches, heartburn, rectal itching, hives, confusion and breathing problems. In severe cases...
Help! I am allergic to chocolate – A look at food allergies
If you love chocolate but develop symptoms of fever, throat swelling, and difficulty breathing, then you may have a “chocolate allergy.”
A true cocoa allergy is extremely rare because few people are actually allergic to chocolate. In most cases, reactions to chocolate are the result of a food intolerance or allergy to an ingredient in chocolate. People may be allergic to one or more food additives used in some chocolate products. Common food allergy triggers in chocolate products include cow's milk, nuts, wheat or gluten, soy and corn.
Reactions to chocolate can include headaches, heartburn, rectal itching, hives, confusion and breathing problems. In severe cases, anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction affecting two or more body systems that can lead to potentially life-threatening shock) may result.
If you have a food allergy, you must carefully avoid any foods that could trigger it. This means that you need to be very clear about all the ingredients that go into your food. Here are some tips:
Always read food labels on manufactured foods
• Reading the food label will help you identify ingredients you are allergic to
• Food labels are required to clearly list common food allergens. Read them carefully to avoid these eight major sources of food allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat
• If you have asthma, when eating out, be sure to ask if sulfites have been added to your food. When shopping for food, look for the terms “sodium bisulfite,” “potassium bisulfite,” “sodium sulfite,” “sulfur dioxide,” and “potassium metabisulfite” on labels. Avoid purchasing foods that contain these ingredients.
Make your needs known to others
• If you eat out, make sure your server is aware that you cannot eat the foods you are allergic to and that you need to be 100% sure that the meal you order does not contain them
• Be aware of the possibility of cross-contamination between foods in the kitchen. Your server should ensure that your meal was not prepared on surfaces or in pans that contained any of the products to which you are allergic.
Inspired by Kimberly Clarke