Food allergies explained: Symptoms, causes and treatment | Mayo Clinic On Nutrition Podcast

Food allergies affect millions of people and can develop at any age. But what causes food allergies, and how are they different from food intolerances? In this episode of On Nutrition, Mayo Clinic registered dietitian and clinical nutrition manager Sara Wolf, RDN, LD, joins host Tara Schmidt to explain how food allergies develop, why they're becoming more common, and what you can do to stay safe. Sara also shares her personal experience living with severe food allergies and offers practical advice for navigating restaurants, grocery stores and everyday life. Learn about: • What causes food allergies • Food allergies vs. food intolerances • Common food allergy symptoms • Anaphylaxis and when to use an EpiPen • The nine major food allergens • Alpha-gal syndrome and red meat allergy • Oral allergy syndrome (pollen food allergy syndrome) • Food allergy testing and diagnosis • Oral immunotherapy and emerging treatments • Strategies for avoiding cross-contamination You'll also learn why food allergies are becoming more common, whether children can outgrow allergies, and how adults can develop food allergies later in life. On Nutrition is Mayo Clinic's podcast dedicated to helping you understand what's health and what's hype through evidence-based nutrition information and expert interviews. Looking for more On Nutrition episodes? Explore the full podcast library: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/podcasts/on-nutrition/ 00:00 Food allergy reaction story 00:15 Introduction 01:29 Are food allergies becoming more common? 02:26 Can you outgrow a food allergy? 02:50 Can adults develop food allergies? 03:20 Can food allergies be prevented? 04:27 Birth, breastfeeding and allergy risk 06:07 Common food allergy myths 07:01 What causes food allergies? 07:33 Food allergy risk factors 08:53 Food allergies vs. food intolerances 10:02 The nine major food allergens 10:38 Uncommon food allergies and alpha-gal syndrome 12:00 Oral allergy syndrome explained 13:12 Food allergy recap 14:11 Living with food allergies: Sara's story 16:01 Common allergic reactions and symptoms 17:34 What is anaphylaxis? 18:05 When should you use an EpiPen? 20:23 Food allergy diagnosis and testing 22:57 Recognizing a severe allergic reaction 23:45 New treatments for food allergies 25:18 Avoiding allergens and cross-contamination 27:42 Eating safely at restaurants 30:15 Everyday allergy risks 30:56 Does putting tape on your lips work? 31:45 How to read food labels for allergens 33:39 Final thoughts and key takeaways 34:30 Outro From Mayo Clinic to your inbox (free): https://mayocl.in/3e71zfi Visit Mayo Clinic: https://mayocl.in/2COVmlm Connect with Mayo Clinic: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayoclinic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayoclinic X: https://x.com/MayoClinic Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mayoclinic