Food Safety - Need to Manage Food Allergens

Food Allergy occurs in around 1 in 20 children and in about 2 in 100 adults. The most widely recognized triggers are Cow's milk, Peanut, Tree Nuts, Seafood, Sesame, and Soy, Eggs, fish and wheat. The larger of food allergies in children and adults are not serious, and may be 'outgrown' with time. Be that as it may peanut, tree nut, seed and seafood allergies are less likely to be outgrown and tend to be lifelong allergies. A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system sees a certain food as harmful and reacts by causing one or more symptoms. This is known as an allergic reaction. Foods that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. Even a tiny amount of an allergen can cause a reaction. Allergic reactions usually occur after your child eats a food that she or he is allergic to.

Be Aware of Food Allergy Symptoms:

-         Swelling of face, lips, tongue  and/or eyes

-         Skin rashes and itching and hives

-         Dizziness and/or fainting

-         Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting

-         Repetitive cough

Sometimes allergy symptoms are mild. Other times, symptoms can be severe and result in a serious allergic reaction called Anaphylaxis. An allergic reaction to a food can involve one or more symptoms of the skin, mouth, eyes, lungs, heart, gut, and brain.

Take Steps to Avoid Allergic Reactions:

•  The essential way to manage a food allergy is to avoid consuming the food that causes you problems. Check ingredient labels of food Items, and learn whether what you need to avoid is known by other names.
  
• Read the label every time you buy a product, even if you've used that product before. Food ingredients in any given product may change.
   
• Be extra cautions when eating in Eateries & restaurants. Waiters (and sometimes the kitchen staff) may not generally know the element of every dish on the menu. Depending upon your sensitivity, even just walking into a kitchen or a restaurant can cause an allergic reaction.

 Why is food safety important?

Food safety refers to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses. The Food Safety and Inspection Service educates consumers about the importance of safe food handling and how to reduce the risks associated with foodborne illness. Contact to Rulethirteen at +61 409 894 543 to get information on Food Safety, Food Safety Training and Courses.