This causes intestinal membrane damage with resultant diarrhoea, abdominal bloating and anaemia resulting in malnutrition. Food Intolerance may be caused by the lack of a specific digestive enzyme such as in Lactose Intolerance. This is a remarkably common condition. Then there are adverse reactions to chemical preservatives and additives in food such as seen with Sulphites, Benzoates, Salicylates, Monosodium Glutamate, Caffeine, Aspartame and Tartrazine. These adverse food reactions are of slower onset, do not involve the immune system and are not usually life threatening.
Reactions are usually dose related.
With small amounts of the food being tolerated but larger amounts leading to reactions such rashes, flushing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and palpitations. These are by far the most common adverse food reaction seen in general practice. The lack of a specific enzyme in the body may lead to the build up of toxic by-products and Histamine, which then mimic the symptoms of an allergy. This is called a Pseudo-Allergic Reaction. Food Toxicity Poisons may naturally occur in food such as mushrooms and potatoes.