WIC Works Resource System
U.S. Department of Agriculture
A food allergy is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can happen when the body’s immune system overreacts after eating certain food proteins (known as allergens). Food allergic reactions can vary in severity, with some resulting in mild symptoms like hives or stomach pains, and others leading to more serious conditions like anaphylaxis. There is no cure for food allergies, but they can be managed.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies nine major foods that commonly trigger allergic reactions: peanuts, egg, cow milk products, tree nuts (like almonds, walnuts, and pecans), wheat, crustacean shellfish (like crab, lobster, and shrimp), fish (like bass, flounder, and cod), soybeans, and sesame.