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Food allergy and food intolerance – CCEANut allergy

A food allergy is when the body's immune system reacts unusually to specific foods. Food intolerance is more common than food allergy and is not caused by the immune system.

Part of Home Economics: Food and Nutrition (CCEA)Shopping, storage and preparation

Nut allergy

Three bowls of peanuts – raw, regular and blended

A severe reaction to nuts is called anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening.

Symptoms often occur quickly after coming into contact with nuts.

The person suffering from the allergy may have several symptoms all at the same time. These might include difficultly breathing, vomiting, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat.

If someone has a reaction to nuts their body may go into anaphylactic shock. The sufferer should be treated with an injection of adrenaline (EpiPen) and an ambulance should be called immediately.

An epipen

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