Food Allergies or Intolerances
Reaction to food
What is it
A food allergy occurs when the body overreacts to a food, even after a very small amount is eaten, touched or inhaled. It can cause skin redness, vomiting and difficulty breathing. It can be dangerous.
A food intolerance occurs when the body has trouble digesting a certain food. It mainly causes stomach aches, nausea or diarrhea (watery stools). It is not dangerous.
Related sheets available: Allergy, Anaphylactic Shock
What you can do at home
What to do
- Read the label every time you buy a product. If in doubt, avoid buying/eating the food completely.
- Be aware of hidden sources of allergens, such as:
- Makeup
- Cosmetics
- Sunscreen
- Medications
- Pet food
- Wash your hands, utensils and surfaces with soap and water after touching the food that causes the reaction.
- Be careful at buffets and in other situations where foods may come into contact with one another.
- If you have a food intolerance, follow the recommendations provided by healthcare professional.
When introducing foods to babies
- Introduce one new food at a time, in a small amount.
- Wait 2 days before trying another new food.
- Introduce allergenic foods (e.g., eggs and fish) at the recommended time without delaying, unless a healthcare professional says otherwise.
- If the baby has eczema or a known allergy, consult a healthcare professional before introducing new foods.
- If symptoms appear in the baby after breastfeeding, note when they begin and what symptoms occur, then discuss them with a healthcare professional.
If you have a known allergy
- See the Allergy health advice page to learn:
- how to recognize a severe allergic reaction;
- when to use epinephrine (e.g., EpiPen, Allerject or Emerade);
- when to to go to the hospital right away.
See the Anaphylactic Shock advice page in case of a very severe allergic reaction.
Avoid
- Avoid the food that causes the allergy or intolerance.
- Avoid foods sold in bulk.
- Do not share food or utensils.
- Do not cook different foods in the same oil.
When to seek medical attention
The same symptoms occur every time after eating or touching the same food:
- skin redness
- nausea or vomiting
- stomach aches
- diarrhea (watery stools)
Need help?
Call Info-Santé at 811, Option 1, to speak with a nurse at any time.
Go to the pharmacy for advice on medications or treatment.
Make an appointment at your medical clinic or CLSC.
If you do not have a family doctor, go to gap.soinsvirtuels or call 811, Option 3.
When to go to the hospital right away
After receiving epinephrine (e.g., EpiPen, Allerject or Emerade), even if symptoms improve or go away
After contact with a food that has previously caused a severe allergic reaction
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (redness, itchy skin, or swelling of the lips, tongue or face), along with at least one of the following:
- A high-pitched sound when breathing (stridor) or difficulty breathing
- Bluish or purplish lips or fingers
- Feeling weak or dizzy, or loss of consciousness
- A very rapid heartbeat
- Stomach ache, vomiting or diarrhea (watery stools)
- For young children (ages 0 to 2): not responding as usual, being limp or difficult to wake