What is the most common food allergy?

The most common food allergy varies between different populations, the causes of which are thought to be a combination of lifestyle, cultural habits and genetics. However, there are eight very common food allergies across the world, all of which can cause mild to severe allergic responses, depending on the individual’s tolerance to them. The most common food allergies include:

• Milk (more specifically cow’s milk)
• Egg (both the yolk and the white of the egg)
• Peanuts (allergies to peanuts is the leading cause of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis))
• Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios)
• Soy (most common in children)
• Wheat (the trigger in those with celiac disease)
• Fish (can develop in adulthood)
• Shellfish (including crustaceans like shrimp, crab, lobster and mollusks like clams, mussels, oysters)