Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance in Children

By Marci Saeva | April 14, 2019

TRUE food allergies in children, toddler to preschool age is only between 2-8%1(pg 315)

True Food Allergy: Involves anaphylaxis reaction with an immune response, which includes a sudden onset of symptoms that range from mild to severe with reduced ability to breathe, severe hives or rash, possible coma, and even death*(Green 315).

*It is imperative to have an epinephrine injection on hand (one for home, one for school, and one packed for outings) this can be lifesaving.

Food Intolerance or Food Sensitivity: Symptoms are less serious than with a food allergy and are often limited to digestive issues, asthma, or skin conditions, such as eczema (MayoClinic.org)

*Food intolerances/sensitivities can result from a reaction to gluten in wheat, casein or lactose in milk, food additives, and artificial flavorings or colors. Symptoms of food intolerances or sensitivities could also exacerbate conditions including autism, ADHD, and other behavioral issues.

7 Common Food Allergies: (Brown 315; Green 170).

  • Cow’s Milk
  • Wheat
  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Soy
  • Shellfish
  • Fish
  • Tree nuts

Concerns with adequate calcium intake for children allergic to cow’s milk can be supplemented with other calcium rich foods which include: (NutritionMD.org)

  • Calcium-fortified cereals and oats
  • Calcium-fortified orange juice
  • Calcium-fortified soy or almond milk
  • Oranges
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • White beans
  • Enriched/fortified bread and grains

The 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines suggest not avoiding any food beyond 4 to 6 months of age in an effort to reduce food allergies (Green 170).

To determine which food (if any) may be a true food allergy or food intolerance, the AAP suggests a “wait and see” method of waiting between 3-5 days before introducing a new food. This should be ample time to determine if a child has an allergy or intolerance to a food (Green 170).

References

Brown, Judith E. Nutrition Through the Life Cycle. 5th ed. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.

Greene, Alan. Feeding Baby Green. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint, 2009. Print.

Mayo Clinic. Food Allergy. 14 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2017. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-allergy/expert-answers/food-allergy/faq-20058538

Nutrition MD. Kids: Building Healthy Bones: Recommended Calcium–Rich Foods. Web. 19 Apr. 2017. http://www.nutritionmd.org/nutrition_tips/nutrition_tips_infant_nutrition/bone_calcium_foods.html

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