Food allergies occur most often in children, but can also appear at any given age and can be caused by foods that were previously eaten and enjoyed without any problems. Excessive exposure to a particular food may also affect the overall rate of allergy to that food, as seen in the Scandinavians who consume fish and the Japanese who eat a large quantity of rice.

Heredity seems to be the primary reason some people have allergies and other people don't. If both parents had allergies, you have approximately a 75% chance of being allergic as well. If one parent is allergic, you have relatives on one side with allergies; you have a 30 to 40 % chance of developing some form of allergy. If neither parent had an apparent allergy, the chance is 10 to 15 percent.

Once the food allergy has been confirmed, the most effective means of dealing with the food allergy is by the process of elimination. The patient should not eat the offending food in any form. The patient must be watchful and check labels on food products and learn other names of identifying the responsible food or food additive to make certain it is not present.

If you are eating in a restaurant, be particularly aware and take emergency medications with you if you have a history of severe attacks. Waiters aren't always knowledgeable about the ingredients of each thing listed on the menu.

In some cases of adult food allergies, strict adherence to an elimination diet appears to promote the process of outgrowing the food allergy. The vast majority of patients with documented allergic reactions to eggs, cow's milk, and soy eventually become tolerant to these foods. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, however last a lifetime and are not outgrown.

One-third of children and adults will eventually be free from their allergic reactions to foods after carefully following the strict diets free of the offending food allergens.

After removal of the foods responsible for your allergic reactions, your allergist may recommend that you have an oral food challenge under observation to reassess your symptoms. If you are without a reaction, then you will be able to reintroduce this food into your diet. If symptoms occur, the dietary restriction will need to stay in place.