What is food intolerance and is it the same as food allergy?

Food intolerances are sometimes confused with food allergies, but they are not the same. A food allergy involves the immune system and the resulting allergic reactions can be severe.

Food intolerance involves the digestive system and occurs when the body has a chemical reaction to eating a particular food or drink, and involves a wide range of adverse reactions. Symptoms including diarrhoea, stomach pain, bloating and gas can affect your general health and wellbeing.

People can be intolerant to a number of natural food ingredients, for example they can be intolerant to lactose in dairy foods. Other foods, such as caffeine and spicy foods also can cause food intolerance by acting as irritants in the digestive system. Gluten intolerance is as the name suggests a sensitivity to a type of protein that’s found in wheat and other foods.

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Foods that may cause intolerance reactions in sensitive people include:

Dairy products (including milk, cheese and yoghurt)
Chocolate
Eggs (particularly egg white)
Flavour enhancers, eg. monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Food additives
Strawberries, citrus fruits and tomatoes
Wine (particularly red wine)

How do I know if I have a Food Intolerance?

Food intolerances can be difficult to diagnose and can sometimes be determined by eliminating certain ingredients from the diet and waiting to see if symptoms subside. As restricted diets can lead to inadequate nutrition, particularly in children, these ‘elimination diets’ are usually temporary and followed under strict medical supervision.

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