Friday, May 2, 2008

Food allergy and intolerance

Food allergy and food intolerance are both types of food sensitivity. When someone has a food allergy, their immune system reacts to a particular food as if it isn't safe. If someone has a severe food allergy, this can cause a life-threatening reaction.

Food intolerance doesn't involve the immune system and is generally not life-threatening. But if someone eats a food they are intolerant to, this could make them feel ill or affect their long-term health.

If you think you have a food allergy or intolerance, then it's important to get a proper diagnosis. Don't cut food groups out of your diet without medical advice, because you could miss out on important nutrients.

If you want to know when a food has been withdrawn or recalled because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk, check out the Agency's Allergy Alerts page on food.gov.uk. You can also sign up for email or text alerts.

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