The Top 9 Food Allergens and Why Everyone Should Take Food Allergies Seriously

Food allergies are more than just an inconvenience. For some families, they are a life-altering, daily reality that requires constant vigilance. The stakes are high because for those with severe allergies, even a tiny amount of the wrong food can trigger a reaction, sometimes life-threatening.

In our home, we know this all too well. My youngest daughter is anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. That means exposure to even trace amounts could send her into anaphylaxis. We live in a world where those foods or traces of them seem to be everywhere, and keeping her safe is a 24/7 job.

The Top 9 Allergens

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration identifies nine major food allergens:

1. Peanuts

2. Tree nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, and hazelnuts)

3. Shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc.)

4. Fish (like salmon, tuna, cod)

5. Milk

6. Eggs

7. Soy

8. Wheat

9. Sesame

These nine are responsible for the majority of severe allergic reactions in the United States, but there are many other less common allergens as well.

Why Cross-Contamination is Such a Big Deal

Cross-contamination happens when a safe food comes into contact with an allergen. This can be as obvious as using the same knife to spread peanut butter and then butter bread, or as hidden as baking cookies on a sheet that once held nut-filled brownies. Even if the allergen is present in microscopic amounts, it can be enough to cause a dangerous reaction. Our daughter had a reaction to some cereal that was processed in a plant that sometimes processed nuts. 

For us, this means checking every label, every ingredient list, and even every kitchen tool. We have learned to question everything because hidden dangers pop up in the most unexpected places.

Our Reality

We used to eat out occasionally, but after several close calls even after asking all the right questions and informing staff we decided it wasn’t worth the risk. One mistake could be fatal, and no restaurant meal is worth my daughter’s life.

We’ve also stopped going to many people’s homes. Unless someone truly understands the seriousness of food allergies and is willing to take every precaution, it’s simply not safe. A select few family members take it seriously and we trust them, but sadly, we’ve learned that many people just don’t.

We’ve heard it all — “You worry too much.” “It’s not that serious.” “It’ll just give her a rash.” But here’s our answer: Who would choose to live this way if they didn’t have to?

This is one reason I believe everyone should take food allergies seriously, even if it’s not something you personally deal with. You never know when allergies will affect someone you love and if that day comes, you’ll wish the world was more careful.

What Everyone Can Do

• Read labels every time. Ingredients change.

• Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling allergenic foods.

• Never assume a food is safe without checking.

• Listen when someone explains their allergy and respect it.

• Don’t offer “just a little” of something that contains or might contain an allergen.

Food allergies are not a choice, but taking them seriously is. Your awareness could save a life.