If you’ve got an allergy, you’re constantly looking for any signs of it in everything you eat. You read the ingredients list, review the restaurant menu, and keep your family and friends informed. It’s a 24/7 task. Yet, sometimes, you find yourself having an allergic reaction despite your best efforts.
Maybe you didn’t realise you even had an allergy. Or maybe that list of ingredients isn’t as helpful as you first thought.
We call these allergic reactions “hidden allergies” because they can often be missed. Whether it’s a missing trigger in an ingredients list or an allergy that’s yet to be diagnosed, it’s important to take every reaction seriously.
What are Hidden Allergies?
Hidden allergies refer to either :
- An allergen that’s missing or not clear in an ingredients list. It could be hiding under a different name or contained within another ingredient.
- An allergy you’ve yet to diagnose. Most allergies are relatively easy to diagnose. Once you notice the symptoms, it’s simply a matter of tracking down the trigger item. However, if you have a slightly delayed reaction or you’re allergic to something unusual, e.g., lupini beans, it can be hard to identify.
Some allergies, like peanuts, are extremely acute and dramatic. However, other reactions to egg, milk, wheat, or soy can take longer to appear via “soft signs,” e.g., asthma, eczema, or gastrointestinal problems. People can often dismiss these symptoms as eating “something dodgy” or just an exacerbation of an existing condition.
There’s also the risk of cross-contamination. For example, people with coeliac disease (which isn’t an allergy) are susceptible to gluten. Oats don’t contain gluten, but they’re often processed alongside other grains that do. Cross-contamination is a common cause of hidden allergies, especially in restaurants.
The Problem with Hidden Allergies
Allergies can occur after even small amounts of exposure. Some people can have an allergic reaction to the air or cooking fumes contaminated with the allergen. (That’s why you can’t eat peanuts on an aeroplane.)
Most environmental allergens are hard to detect. Mould, pet dander, dust mites, and other environmental factors could contaminate bedding, clothes, and furniture, making it incredibly difficult to identify without a thorough inspection of your home.
Food allergies are somewhat easier to detect. In the UK, food businesses are legally required to advertise the inclusion of allergens in bold on food packaging. However, if the allergen is a component in a product that’s listed as an ingredient, it’s impossible to know if it’s present. For example, mayonnaise contains eggs. If a sandwich contains mayonnaise, the ingredients list may not contain eggs.
Some people are only allergic to a specific protein within the eggs. Therefore, a product may list lecithin or ovamucin in the ingredients list, which is a byproduct of eggs. This can confuse customers.
Common Hidden Allergies
Most people are aware of the specific food or environmental factor they’re allergic to. But, as mentioned, companies may include an extract from that item in their product. Allergens like nuts, sesame seeds, mustard, and shellfish are less susceptible to this problem. However, eggs, milk, and soy are a constant risk.
Examples of common hidden allergies include :
- Eggs can be hidden in products like noodles, bagels, and pretzels, where egg white may be used for shine without clear labelling. Ingredients like lysozyme, used as a preservative, might be listed as a binder, emulsifier, or coagulant. Egg proteins can also be found in cosmetics, shampoos, and medications such as Agarol.
- Milk proteins often appear in margarine, bread, instant mashed potatoes, and soups. They may be listed as “casein,” “whey,” or “natural flavouring.” Even vegetarian cheese and hypoallergenic formulas may contain milk proteins, creating unexpected risks.
- Soy is frequently included in products under names like “hydrolysed protein,” “lecithin,” or “starch.” It is used in baked goods, sauces, and stabilisers, making it difficult to identify. Soy-based products may also inadvertently contain cow’s milk protein.
Cross-contamination adds another layer of risk, with allergens transferred during processing or cooking. Shared equipment, such as slicers or frying surfaces, can introduce hidden allergens without explicit labelling.
How to Avoid Hidden Allergies
Staying safe requires an in-depth knowledge of your allergy. But you can only know what the problem is if you’ve been diagnosed. Follow these tips to avoid hidden allergies:
Take an Allergy Test
There’s no substitute for an allergy test. It’s the gold standard option for detecting a hidden allergy that could be affecting your health. The Allergy & Intolerance Test Plus provides a comprehensive analysis of your allergies and intolerances, detecting 117 common triggers (38 allergies and 79 intolerances). It was voted the 2023 Best Mystery Allergy Test by Verywell Health.
The test only involves a small drop of blood. You can send your sample via the postage kit, and you will receive your results within 7 days. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to detect any hidden allergies.
Learn the Derivative Components
Let’s say you get your results back, and you’re allergic to milk. It’s not just milk you need to watch out for. You could have a problem with certain types of bread, chocolate, cookies, cream sauces, and much more.
Moreover, there are the components of milk to look out for. For example, whey (found in protein powder), lactalbumin, casein, and more all originally come from milk. You will want to avoid products containing these ingredients
Read the Ingredients List Carefully
Always read the ingredients list carefully. You’re not just looking for the bold ingredients; you’re looking for the other ingredients that might contain the offending allergen.
Create an Allergy Card
If you’re eating with friends or going to a restaurant, an allergy card comes in handy. It doesn’t just list the allergen specifically but the other ingredients you need to avoid. Getting an allergy card in a foreign language is especially advisable if you’re travelling abroad.
