Food Allergies
Food allergies are one of the most common types of allergies. A food allergy happens when your immune system treats something in a food, called an allergen, as if it is dangerous to you. Your body reacts to the food allergen by having an allergic reaction.
Check out the allergy page for general information about allergies including signs and symptoms of allergies and anaphylaxis. If you are having symptoms and are unsure if it is an allergic reaction, talk to your family doctor or call 811.
Read the nutrition label to find out if a food contains any of the common food allergens. In Canada, food labels must note if any of the common food allergens are in a food. Common food allergens will be listed in either:
- the ingredient list
- a “Contains” statement right after the ingredient list.
The only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the foods that contain the allergen that you are allergic to. Check out Health Canada to learn tips for avoiding common allergens in food.
If your baby has a low risk of developing a food allergy:
- Start to offer the foods that commonly cause allergies at around six months (except cow milk).
- When you introduce any of these foods, introduce only one per day and wait two days before you introduce another.
- If your baby does not have a reaction to the food, continue to offer it on a regular basis.
If your baby is at a higher risk of developing an allergy:
- talk to your healthcare provider or call 811 to discuss things you can do to help reduce your baby’s risk.
Your baby is at a higher risk of developing an allergy, if:
- their parent or sibling has an allergic condition, such as a food allergy
- they have a diagnosed allergy condition, like eczema