Can loratadine be used for a food allergy in place of benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

Maybe . . .: Benadryl is a brand of generic diphenhydramine which is a 1st generation antihistamine. Loratadine is a generic 2nd generation antihistamine. While it's best to avoid foods that cause allergies, answer to your question is a qualified maybe b/c it depends upon type of allergy and amount of exposure. If you're anaphylactic to peanuts, only epinephrine will save you, in which case you need EpiPen.

Yes : yea they are both antihistamines

Agree with Dr Lin,: will re-enforce that the firstline treatment for an anaphylactic reaction to food is epi. Also, loratadine is NOT a substitute for Benadryl (diphenhydramine) because the onset of action is much slower and may occur too late in context of a reaction. Loratadine is better for other conditions such as chronic hives or environmental allergies requiring daily use for persistent/constant histamine blockade.