According to reports from the 10th International Food Allergy Symposium in Chicago, they are among foods that can cause severe allergic reactions, which can be life threatening to highly sensitive people. Symptoms consist of hives, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhea, throat tightening, lip swelling, and occasionally, anaphylaxis - a severe reaction that can be fatal. Foods most likely to cause severe, and occasionally fatal attacks of anaphylaxis, are peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, and in younger children milk and eggs. Individuals highly sensitive to food often limit their lifestyle to avoid exposures, particularly during travel and eating meals prepared outside the home.
Peanuts are one of the most common causes of food-induced anaphylaxis in the United States.
Reactions to peanut and tree nut exposure on commercial airline flights were reported involving 42 passengers through accidental ingestion, contact or inhalation. Fish hypersensitivity is frequently encountered in seacoast countries like Norway, with large numbers of people eating fish daily. Fish is among the most important species to human nutrition, particularly cod and pollack - the main ingredient of frozen fish sticks and fish items served by food chains. Despite the great advantages of a fish diet, several fish proteins are highly potent allergens. Other marine allergen sources are the crustacean group, which includes shrimp, prawns, crabs, lobsters and crayfish.