But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org , the AAFP patient education Web site. An article on this topic is available in this issue of AFP . This handout will help you learn the facts about food allergies.
Food allergy is very common.
Although 25 percent of people think they're allergic to certain foods, studies show that about only 6 percent of children and 1 to 2 percent of adults have a food allergy. Babies and young children are most often allergic to milk, eggs, wheat, soybean products and peanuts. Some people are allergic to sugar. This doesn't happen with sugars and fats. Milk allergy is very common and causes diarrhea in adults.