What are the most common food allergies?

Millions of Americans have one or more food allergies that might cause anything from hives to a life-threatening reaction. It’s important to be aware of the most common food allergies and the symptoms they can produce.

Your body’s immune system keeps you healthy by fighting off substances that can harm you, such as certain types of harmful viruses and bacteria. If you have a food allergy, your immune system identifies a specific protein in a food as a danger and reacts in order to protect you. The substance in the food that triggers the reaction is an allergen.

Most people need to eat the food in question in order to have an allergic reaction. However, some people are highly sensitive to the food they’re allergic to and can have a reaction simply from breathing in the allergen or touching the food item with their skin.

Many people lump food allergies and sensitivities together. However, these terms don’t mean the same thing. Understanding the difference between a food sensitivity or intolerance and a food allergy is very important.

A food sensitivity or an intolerance causes less serious symptoms than a food allergy, and it typically only affects the digestive system. For example, people with lactose intolerance lack an enzyme that breaks down lactose sugar in milk, so they may experience gas, diarrhea and other digestive issues when they consume food containing lactose.

Food allergies occur due to an immune system response. Consuming or coming in contact with even a small amount of a food that your body considers an allergen can result in severe symptoms.

Many foods are known to be allergens. However, 90% of all allergic reactions to foods involve one of the following nine food allergies:

1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Shellfish, like crab, shrimp and lobster
4. Finned fish, like flounder, cod and bass
5. Peanuts
6. Tree nuts, like pecans, walnuts and almonds
7. Wheat
8. Soy
9. Sesame

Under federal regulations, food manufacturers must identify these nine major food allergens on ingredient labels. The law also requires them to note any ingredients that are derived from a common allergen. However, there are some limitations. Poultry, most meats, some egg products and alcoholic beverages may not contain these warnings.

You can be allergic to foods other than the nine most common. However, the law only requires that common food allergens be called out on food labels. If you’re allergic to an uncommon food, read ingredient lists carefully beforehand to help avoid an allergic reaction.

Most people develop symptoms within a few minutes to a few hours after eating a food they’re allergic to. These symptoms can include:

• Hives or an itchy rash
• Stomach pain, diarrhea or vomiting
• Repetitive cough
• Stuffy, itchy or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Tight or itchy feeling in the mouth
• Swelling of the face, tongue, throat or lips
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing

Anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening reaction that sends your body into shock. It can cause trouble with breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and other symptoms. Call 911 right away if you have signs of anaphylaxis.

The symptoms of an allergic reaction can differ each time. You could experience only a minor food skin allergy symptom like a rash, hives or itchy throat the first time you eat a food but then later, you may experience a more severe reaction the next time you eat or come in contact with the same food. This makes it important to read labels and strictly avoid any food item that you’re allergic to regardless of how mild or severe a past reaction was. 

While most food allergies start in childhood, it’s possible to develop them as an adult. You could suddenly have an allergic reaction to a food that never caused you trouble before. However, this isn’t common.

Some food allergies may go away on their own. This is most common when the allergies start during childhood. It’s less common for people to outgrow allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish. These types of allergies are more likely to last a lifetime.

The treatment of food allergies usually centers on avoiding the foods that trigger reactions. There is no cure for food allergies. However, your healthcare provider may prescribe emergency epinephrine that you should carry with you at all times in case you accidentally come into contact with an allergen. Epinephrine is a medication used to treat anaphylaxis. When administered quickly, it can save your life. 

To treat hives and other minor allergic reactions, your healthcare provider may recommend other medications, such as prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines. In some cases, corticosteroids may be recommended to reduce swelling.

Newer emerging therapies may be considered for certain people with food allergies. The injectable prescription medicine omalizumab has recently been approved to help reduce the risk of allergic reactions to multiple foods after accidental exposure. An approved form of oral immunotherapy for children ages 4–17 years old with a confirmed peanut allergy can help reduce the incidence and severity of allergic reactions.

There is no FDA-approved home test for food allergies. While you may find kits that advertise testing for food sensitivities, these tests aren’t the same as the food allergy testing performed by an allergy specialist. 

Proper diagnosis of food allergies is very important. Talk to your healthcare provider if you suspect you have a food allergy.  They can review your symptoms and medical history. They will likely order testing, such as blood work or a skin test, to determine if you have a food allergy. If you’re not sure what food may be causing the allergic reaction, your provider may have you keep a food journal to record everything you eat and any symptoms you experience. If you’re diagnosed with a food allergy, your healthcare provider can talk to you about emergency treatments and share tips on how best to prevent reactions or manage your symptoms.

Updated April 2025.