Food Allergies: Abnormal Immune Reactions

Researchers estimate that about 15 million people have food allergies. An allergy is an abnormal immune reaction. Some reactions may cause hives, others, may be more serious, such as, antiepileptic shock. One of the most common allergies is from food. The majority of food allergies is activated by certain proteins in, shellfish, such as; shrimp, lobster, and crab. Tree nuts such as; peanuts, walnuts, pecans. Other foods that may cause an allergic reaction are; fish, eggs, and wheat. Food additives are the chemicals that keep food fresh, enhance their color, flavor and/or texture to preserve its self-life. Food additives consist of artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG), trans fat and common food dyes. The common food dyes are; Blue #1and Blue #2, Red dye #3 and Red #40, Yellow #6 and Tartrazine, sodium sulfite, sodium nitrate/nitrite, Butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, sulfur dioxide, and potassium bromate.
Allergies of the 15 million people can vary from mild to very serious. Some allergies can cause mild reactions such as skin rash, hives, runny nose, itchy eyes, nausea, and/or stomach cramping. With an allergy being …show more content…
Preservative can help food last longer without contaminating it with food borne illnesses. Being designed to slow down the ripening process, it allows food to last longer, so the minimizing of food being thrown out for going bad. Regardless of the purpose, preservatives can cause several serious health risks, such as cancer. Preservatives used to stabilize certain cosmetics and/or foods contains fat that can cause tumors in the brains. Nitrosames (R1N(-R2)-N=O), including nitrates and nitrites, can lead to the cause of certain cancers, as they interact with stomach acids. Nitrosamines are found in a variety of foods, including meats, beer and nonfat dried