Do you have food allergy or food intolerance? Take the quiz

This myth buster quiz separates fact from fiction and explains the differences between a food allergy and an intolerance

Food allergy or food intolerance?

Around one or two people out of every 100 in the UK have a food allergy, but food intolerance is more common.

Genuine food allergy is rare. About 2% of the population and 8% of children under the age of three are affected.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy is a rapid and potentially serious response to a food by your immune system. It can trigger classic allergy symptoms such as a rash, wheezing and itching.

The most common food allergies among adults are to fish and shellfish and nuts, including peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and brazil nuts. Children often have allergies to milk and eggs as well as to peanuts, other nuts and fish.

What is a food intolerance?

Food intolerances are more common than food allergies. The symptoms of food intolerance tend to come on more slowly, often many hours after eating the problem food. Typical symptoms include bloating and stomach cramps.

It’s possible to be intolerant to several different foods. This can make it difficult to identify which foods are causing the problem.

Food intolerances can also be difficult to tell apart from other digestive disorders that produce similar symptoms, such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal obstructions or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Take the quiz to test your knowledge.

Article written by a Telegraph Reporter

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