ALLERGIES TO FOOD – TESTING OF FOOD ALLERGIES

Posted on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 7:35 am

Cow’s milk contains about 14 different proteins, all capable of becoming allergens. Each may be broken down or digested into around 12 different substances and all of these can induce an allergy. This means there are over 100 different combinations in cow’s milk which may induce allergy in susceptible individuals.

The testing of food allergies may be difficult, as the original food may not be the problem but products from it.

Children with allergies to cow’s milk may have recurrent episodes of diarrhoea, sometimes with blood in the motions, or the allergy may result in eczema or even asthma.

If both parents have a history of allergy, there is a strong likelihood their children will be similarly affected. If the infant is to be artifically fed, a substitute for cow’s milk should be considered, at least for the first six months.

Goat’s milk is also capable of causing allergy and, unfortunately, so is soya bean. Plants contain protein, carbohydrate and oils, all of which are capable of being allergens. It is the oil of soya bean which is the main cause of allergy to this food.

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