The state of Massachusetts passed a law, which recently went into effect, requiring restaurants to train their staff on how to prevent contamination of food by allergenic ingredients and post signs that say: "Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy." The frequency with which people request special meals and substitutions these days, you'd think that afflicted diners were in the majority. However, only about 4% of the American population has a food allergy. Why the new mandate? Well, the very vocal minority of consumers and assertive advocacy groups have convinced legislators to place an obligation on food handlers.
Allergies are no laughing matter. Anaphylaxis, an acute hypersensitivity reaction that can be fatal, may be triggered by nuts, shellfish and other foods. Most people who have a true allergy - an actual immune system-mediated condition and not just an intolerance or phobia - will not die from something they ate. They may just get a rash or itchy dermatitis, have difficulty breathing, develop a stomachache and perhaps experience a bout of diarrhea. I don't mean to be disrespectful to those with a true diagnosis, but I do believe that some folks exaggerate the extent of their suffering. I even dare say that food allergies and sensitivities are en vogue today. Psychosomatic symptoms and self-diagnosis are rampant thanks to the vast amount of medical and pseudo-scientific information available on demand with any internet-enabled mobile device anywhere you happen to be (make sure to sanitize your Blackberry when you're done with your research).
Fear and neurosis can illicit an "allergic reaction." Simply suspecting that you inadvertently consumed dairy can cause gas & bloating due to a distorted variation of the placebo effect. If you've ever had food poisoning, you probably avoided the food which harbored the bacteria that made you sick for a while after your unpleasant experience. Someone with a tendency toward hypochondria and OCD may never touch that food again in their life. Rather than admit a fear or dislike for something, a certain percentage of people will claim to have an allergy. And the power of conviction will likely be there to reinforce the claim with physical proof.
Notwithstanding the the rise in "alleged allergies," more consumers are being clinically diagnosed and advised to avoid certain things than ever before. When you work in the food business, you come across a lot of people with food allergies, which makes you wonder WHY? I'd like to discuss a few of the theories which I think have the most merit. Unfortunately, understanding what causes food allergies won't necessarily cure them. Making conscious food choices can minimize your suffering and perhaps spare future generations.
1. Inadequate breastfeeding
I apologize for placing the blame on Mom, but the truth is that breast milk contains antibodies designed to promote infantile intestinal health. A baby's gut lacks IgA molecules making it permeable to proteins which act as allergens, like casein from cow's milk. Mother's milk provides an early infusion of these antibodies to help create a barrier capable of protecting against offensive substances. Healthy gut microflora is the first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, AND.... potential allergens.
2. Over-sterile environment
The obsession with anti-bacterial soaps, gels and cleaning products has wrecked havoc on children's immune systems. Numerous studies support the "hygiene hypothesis" which explains the link between too clean an environment and higher rates of conditions caused by a compromised immune system, namely allergies & asthma. Immunological disorders are less common in developing countries where standards of sanitation and cleanliness are much lower than those here in the U.S. Peanut allergies are virtually unknown in poor African nations where crowding and frequent infections are the norm. Peanut butter, in the form of "Plumpy'nut" (a paste made of peanut butter, milk powder, vitamins & minerals), has saved tens of thousands of malnourished African children. This nutrient-dense formula would be banned in many American schools and could only be administered in the country with EpiPen in hand.
3. Overconsumption of processed foods
Sweets and processed foods with added sugars and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils also screw up the immune system. Excess sugar and white flour incites an inflammatory response that is similar to the body's response to an allergen. Eating too much sugar may also disrupt the digestive system allowing undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream (aka. "leaky gut syndrome") and result in an allergic reaction. Hydrogenated oils are pro-inflammatory which explains why they are capable of causing a laundry list of physiological problems. Food allergies are just one of the many consequences that should motivate you to avoid artificial trans fats (the naturally occurring trans fat called conjugated linoleic acid, derived from ruminant animal products, is not associated with the same adverse health effects as artificial ones, and is actually beneficial).
4. Underconsumption of nutritious, whole foods
Americans are notoriously overfed and undernourished because of poor eating habits. People just don't eat enough fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants which support healthy immune function. Popping a multivitamin pill containing synthetic nutrients is not as effective as getting health-promoting substances straight from Nature. Increased production and marketing of dairy & meat substitutes has encouraged many allergy sufferers to rely on processed foods to fill the voids in their diets thus perpetuating dependency on "edible food-like substances."
A good dietary rule of thumb is to only eat things you could make in your own kitchen. If your go-to dairy substitute contains ingredients you can't pronounce or buy in your neighborhood grocery store then consider putting it back on the shelf. This may necessitate your rethinking your daily habits and change your point of view. I tell a lot of people who are newly diagnosed with an allergy and frantic about what they (or their child in the case of a parent) can now eat to consider their food allergy to be a blessing rather than a curse. Be grateful that your health condition is not life threatening and presents the opportunity to explore new & healthy foods you may not have tried before.
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