“My son is allergic to dairy too, so we have to buy lactose-free milk.” You’ve probably heard someone say something similar to this if you’ve discussed food allergies with your friends or neighbors. Food allergies are not widely understood and are often confused with food intolerances or other digestive problems.
A food allergy involves the immune system. A reaction occurs when the body mistakes a particular food protein as harmful. For allergies involving the IgE antibodies, the IgE antibodies attach themselves to the protein, as they would if it were a bacteria or virus, identifying the protein as harmful to the body. The immune cells, or mast cells, then respond by releasing a chemical in the bloodstream called histamine. The histamine released into the blood causes the symptoms we observe in an allergic reaction, like hives, swelling, itching, or restricted breathing. 
A food allergy is not the same as a food intolerance. Food intolerances are generally associated with the digestive track and often are a result of an individual missing a certain chemical or enzyme used to digest a particular food. For example someone who is lactose intolerant is missing an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk. However, food intolerances can also cause many similar symptoms to a food allergy, including hives or rashes. While the difference between the two disorders may not be easily distinguished by symptoms, a doctor can determine whether a true food allergy exists. The reason it is important to know this difference is because a food allergy can be life-threatening, while a food intolerance is not.
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