How to read the food allergen report

The core principle of reading food allergen reports is "priority to classification, priority to response." Don't scare yourself by looking at the numerical value and the upward arrow. Most of the time, there is no need to completely avoid foods.

Last week, a mother came to me with her 1-year-old child in her arms. The report in her hand showed that the milk item was marked with 0.45IU/ml and an upward arrow. When she got home, she threw away all the milk powder she had just opened, including all the soluble beans containing milk, for fear that the child would be allergic. In fact, this value corresponds to level 1 hyposensitivity. Clinically, it is only recommended to add a small amount gradually. As long as the child does not have rash, vomiting, diarrhea or other reactions, it is completely fine to eat normally. Not to mention that she wasted half a can of hundreds of milk powder in vain. The child cried for several days and refused to drink the deeply hydrolyzed milk powder. It was so frustrating.

When you get the report, don’t rush to look at the values. First, make sure you understand what kind of test you are doing. Nowadays, IgE-mediated immediate allergy testing and IgG testing are commonly done. The clinical significance of the latter is still divided among academic circles. Many clinicians believe that elevated IgG represents the body’s immune tolerance. To put it bluntly, you often eat this kind of food and your body recognizes it. It is not an allergy signal. If you eat the corresponding food, you will not feel any discomfort. Even if the IgG value is as high as level 3 or 4, there is no need to eat taboos at all. Don’t be fooled by some institutions that you can’t eat this or touch that. In the end, you will end up with malnutrition, which will be troublesome.

I met a young man who works in catering a while ago, and the lobster item on the report showed a level 2 positive. He said that he has been selling crayfish for five or six years, and he tried to eat at least two or three a day. He has never had itching or diarrhea. To put it bluntly, this positive is just a reminder, just like the weather forecast says there will be light rain tomorrow. The gold standard for allergies is never the number on the report, but the actual reaction after eating the food. Some people report that they are only level 1 hypoallergenic, but if they take a bite of mango, their throat will become swollen and they can't breathe. No matter how low the number is, they must be strictly avoided. ； Some people report level 3 positive symptoms. It’s okay to eat whatever they want. They can eat and drink as they should, so there is no need to feel any psychological burden.

When you are really unsure, don’t speculate on your own. Take the report to an allergist and explain your usual reactions to these foods. The comprehensive judgment will be more reliable than just guessing at an online comparison table.