Allergy factsheets
Our dedicated team of experts have developed these factsheets to give you, your family, and community the knowledge you need to navigate the challenges of living with a serious allergy and the risk of anaphylaxis. Our factsheets are reliable and up to date, and based on the latest evidence.
What we cover
The top 14 food allergens
In the UK, food allergen labelling regulations recognise 14 foods as the most common causes of food allergies and intolerances. These are celery, egg, fish, lupin, milk, mustard, peanuts and tree nuts, sesame, shellfish (crustaceans & molluscs) soya, sulphites, and wheat (cereals containing gluten).
Other food allergens
There are foods outside of the top 14 allergens that can cause allergic reactions. These are alpha-gal, banana, buckwheat, fruit, kiwifruit, legumes & pulses, lipid transfer proteins, onion & garlic, pollen food syndrome, Quorn, seeds and vegetables.
Non-food allergens
Non-food causes of allergic reactions include animals, chlorhexidine, drugs, exercise, idiopathic anaphylaxis, insect stings, latex and mould.
Tests, treatments and other topics
Read about anaphylaxis, adrenaline, immunotherapy, allergy testing, allergen thresholds, cosmetics and personal care products, and outgrowing allergy.
See our Glossary of Terms for more information
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Information you can trust
Anaphylaxis UK holds the PIF TICK – the UK’s quality mark for health information. This certifies that we are a ‘trusted information creator’ and that the PDF downloads of our Factsheets are evidence-based, jargon-free, up-to-date and produced to the best possible standard.
The PIF TICK is run by the non-profit Patient Information Forum (PIF).
Factsheets about the top 14 food allergens
Factsheets about other food allergens
Factsheets on testing, treatment and other topics
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