According to a new study, around ten million people in Britain claim that they are unable to eat foods from milk to mustard, but fewer than two per cent actually have a problem. The researchers from Portsmouth University found the discrepancy after reviewing studies into the prevalence of food allergies, which are caused by an over-reaction of the immune system, and intolerances, which have similar but less severe symptoms.

One could be suffering from an underlying medical problem that goes untreated because the belief is the symptoms are caused by a particular food such as milk, eggs or wheat, claim the researchers of this study.

Keeping this study aside, however, millions of people around the world are known to suffer from food allergies. For them, foods that we routinely consume can be life-threatening.

Allergens common in India
While almost any food can be allergic, few common foods are usually responsible for almost 90 percent of food-related allergies. Patterns of common allergens differ across regions and cultures, and may increase with higher consumption.

Dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds and cashews, fish, shellfish, soya, wheat and, increasingly, sesame generally top the list of most common allergens.

Dals (pulses) such as chickpeas are more common allergens in India and even allergy to rice has been reported. Fried foods and non-vegetarian foods have also been identified as common causes of allergies in India.

Also read: More on food allergies common in India

Tags: Allergens , food