A study of food allergy and intolerance and their management

Abstract

Some people experience symptoms of varying intensity when they ingest particular foods. Adverse reactions to food can be classified under two main conditions: FOOD INTOLERANCE and FOOD AVERSION. Food aversion incorporates the psychological aspects of food intolerance. Food intolerance is the term used to describe an abnormal but reproducible, unpleasant or adverse reaction to a specific food or food ingredient and is not psychologically based. Food allergy is a form of food intolerance where there is evidence of an abnormal immunological reaction to food due to sensitization by food antigens which do not provoke reactions in the majority (Lessof, 1984). A family survey was carried out to study the extent, as well as, other characteristics of food intolerance within a sample of Maltese families.