Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered b
the body’s immune system. There are several types of immu
responses to food. This booklet focuses on one type of adv
reaction to food—that in which the body produces a specif
type of antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE).
The binding of IgE to specifc molecules present in a food
triggers the immune response. The response may be mild o
in rare cases it can be associated with the severe and life-
threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, which is described
in a later section of this booklet. Therefore, if you have a
food allergy, it is extremely important for you to work wit
your healthcare professional to learn what foods cause you
allergic reaction.
What Is an Allergic Reaction to Food?
A food allergy occurs when the immune system responds to a
harmless food as if it were a threat. The frst time a person with
food allergy is exposed to the food, no symptoms occur; but the
frst exposure primes the body to respond the next time. When
the person eats the food again, an allergic response can occur.
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