Living with Food Allergies

Food – it’s not just a staple for life, it’s a way to meet people, to learn about culture, to celebrate and give thanks. 

It’s the making of memories, and so much more … But for some people, gatherings around food can be scary, or even life threatening.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are most common in infants and children in Australia.  In fact, according to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), 10% of infants, between 4-8% of children, and 2% of adults suffer from a food allergy.

The most common foods that cause allergies are:

  • Cows milk (dairy)

  • Eggs

  • Peanuts

  • Tree nuts

  • Sesame

  • Soy

  • Fish

  • Shellfish

  • Wheat

Though, of course, anything that is ingested can cause an allergic reaction.  Many allergies are not severe and some will actually disappear in the course of time. 

Symptoms of Food Allergies

The types of reactions that are usual with a food allergies include:

  •  Low blood pressure and dizziness

  • Swelling of lips and throat

  • Diarrhoea and vomiting

  • Shortness of breath

  • Itchy eyes, skin or rash

The most severe form of reaction is anaphylaxis – this is a life threatening allergic reaction that usually involves more than one part of the body.  People who suffer from this condition must carry an epi-pen with them in case of an emergency.

What about Food Intolerance?

Food intolerances are much more common with around 25% of the population believing that they suffer from some kind of food intolerance.  The difference between them is:

  •  A food allergy – is an immune system reaction to a food;

  • A food intolerance – is an inability to digest a food.

Staying Safe

There is no cure for a food allergy – the only way to manage it, is to avoid that food or food component.  A person suffering from a food allergy needs to be very careful with what they eat. This can be more difficult than it sounds, particularly with small children. 

Food allergies make attending birthday parties and social gatherings stressful.  Sufferers are often left to pack or BYO their own food, and labels need to be checked and double checked.  Not surprisingly, people with food allergies have been shown to have increased levels of anxiety.

Since 2002, the Food Standards Code in Australia has required food labels to declare a range of foods and substances in an effort to make it easier for consumers to determine if a product is safe for them to consume. 

One of the hardest things about living with food allergies is not being able to find suitable sweet treats – but that’s how Dolce Organico vegan meringues came to be! Gold Coast nutritionist Dianne was investigating “low allergy” indulgences for her clients, and today people all over Australia can enjoy meringues made without the common allergens of eggs, dairy and gluten.

PLUS they are organic and have no artificial colourings!

Our vegan meringues are available in several traditional (vanilla, raspberry) and more exotic (limoncello, pina colada) flavours - check out our full range of delicious guilt free treats today! 

Dianne Doyle