Portable Grills And Smokers

Having a food allergy brings with it the knowledge of how critical it is to avoid the food or foods that one has an allergic reaction to. In just a matter of minutes after consuming a food allergen, a life-endangering reaction can take place. Allergens in foodstuffs are not always obvious, and therefore not always easy to avoid. Enjoying the benefits of allergy free foods means knowing for certain that there will be no surprises in the foods you eat.

It is estimated that two percent of adults and from four to eight percent of children suffer from food allergies. Also, the number of younger people who have them seems to be increasing. Approximately 30,000 Americans each year are taken to hospital emergency rooms because of severe food allergy reactions. So, it is very important to closely manage this condition, and the best defense is avoidance of the substance that causes an allergic reaction.

It often takes only a few minutes, and almost always less than an hour, for an adverse reaction to a food allergen to occur. The reaction may be minor, such as an itching of the mouth or on other parts of the body, or severe enough to cause death if not treated immediately, as in anaphylactic shock. There is no way to cure food allergies, though children, and sometimes adults, do outgrow them with time.

Approximately 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by eight foods. These are fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, egg, milk, tree nuts and peanuts. Obviously, one can fairly easily avoid some of them, such as shellfish or fish. Others, however, being included as ingredients in other products, are less obvious. Wheat, egg, milk and soy are used widely in many different products. Even foods such as chocolate candy and Asian condiments may include peanuts, a major allergen for many.

In a major step towards protecting consumers, in 2004 the United States passed a law requiring food manufacturers to include allergen information on their product labels, with regard to the eight most common substances. While this was a significant measure, it did not extend to requiring statements by manufacturers regarding the possibility of cross-contamination caused by processing different products on the same equipment.

Cross-contamination statements have been included voluntarily on labels by some food processors. But, there remains some potential risk when purchasing foods that are made for consumers in general, without regard to allergies. For some people, only a tiny amount of a substance is necessary for a very serious reaction to occur. Products made specially for those with food allergies are more likely to be safe to eat.

Obviously one may, if in doubt about a particular food item, contact the manufacturing company about ingredients included, or the possibility of cross-contamination with allergens. There is, however, a much higher comfort level knowing that a company manufactures foods specifically for those with food allergies. Among the benefits of allergy free foods is the greater degree of safety one can reasonably expect from foods processed this way.

Learn more on allergy free salsa and gluten-free breads.

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