What are the most common food allergies?

Milk, eggs: For young children the most common food allergies are milk and eggs. Soy and wheat are also common. As children get older, peanuts and tree nuts become more common and are often more severe. And as they become older still, fish, shellfish and seeds become common as well.

Milk and Eggs: Allergy to milk is most common in children. Along with milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanut and tree nuts represents 90% of all food allergies in children. Fish and shellfish are also common, but usually more common in adults.

The "big 8": Only 6 to 8% of children have a true food allergy, and many will outgrow them. About 80% of food allergies are to the following eight foods: milk, egg, soy, wheat (all of which are commonly eventually outgrown) and peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish (all of which are usually not outgrown).

See list below: The most common food allergens are egg, milk, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish. Keep in mind that this does not mean other foods can be the cause of food allergies. For example, over the past few years it has become clear that some individuals can be allergic to meats.

Well Documented: The most common food allergies are well documented by previous responses. While true food allergy reactions are growing exponentially with new diagnoses of peanut allergy every day also on the rise are cases of oral allergy syndrome. This involves symptoms of mouth itching, rash around the mouth and in some cases burning of the mouth due to foods which cross react with allergenic pollens.

A few additions: Most common: milk & dairy (including goat's milk), egg, wheat (white flour), peanut, tree nuts, fish, crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster, prawn, crayfish), soy, corn. With changing american cuisine sesame has emerged as number 9. Raw fruits & vegetables (apple, carrot, citrus, peach, melon, etc) are often implicated as triggers of oral allergy syndrome in those allergic to birch & ragweed pollen.

Protein: Very common meat allergies are to seafoods, while a common plant protein allergen is the peanut.

Peanuts, milk, wheat: Peanuts, milk, egg, wheat, and soy.

4-8, 2-4%: 4-8% of children in the USA are allergic to foods, and about 2-4% of adults. Allergic reactions to foods can be life threatening, so you need to be prepared to deal with a reaction at any time. About one hundred fifty people die of food allergic reactions in the USA every year.

A growing issue: Food allergy is a growing public health concern. As many as 15 million people have food allergies. An estimated 9 million, or 4%, of adults have food allergies. Nearly 6 million or 8% of children have food allergies with young children affected most.