Food allergies
Food allergies are a reaction of the immune system by the consumption of a certain food. In a person with a food allergy, the immune response is hypersensitive, which can trigger mild to moderate and severe symptoms. In extreme cases, anaphylaxis can be reached, which if not treated in time can be life-threatening.
In the countries of the European Union, it has been mandatory for years to report the possible allergens presented by food, packaged or not, that are served to final consumers. This obligation concerns 14 food groups, but they are not the only ones that can cause an allergic reaction to people.
When in doubt if a food has some undeclared allergen in its composition, it should always be discarded and not consumed, since even a small amount consumed can trigger a severe allergen reaction.
Food intolerances
Food intolerances, often confused with allergies, are more common and their symptoms are not very serious because they do not involve the immune system.
The most common food intolerances, without being the only ones, are those related to gluten, lactose, fructose and histamines.
The 14 allergens of mandatory information on the label are the following: