Some foods contain a variety of either naturally occurring or added components that can cause a chemical, or drug-like reaction. You should see a board-certified allergist to get a diagnosis. An allergist and dietitian can best help the food-allergic patient manage diet issues with little sacrifice to nutrition or the pleasure of eating. Once a diagnosis is complete, an allergist will help set up a response plan to manage allergic reactions that may occur. A response plan may include taking medication by injection to control allergic reactions.
Misconceptions abound regarding allergy to food additives and preservatives.
Although some food components have been shown to trigger asthma or hives in certain people, these reactions are not the same as those observed with food. Many of these additives, including aspartame, monosodium glutamate and several food dyes have been studied extensively. Scientific evidence shows that they do not cause allergic reactions. Because food allergy can be life threatening, the allergy-producing food must be completely avoided. Most life-threatening allergic reactions to foods occur when eating away from the home.