APA Dictionary of Psychology

an immune overreaction to consuming a certain food, such as shellfish, milk, peanuts, wheat, or eggs. Most food allergies appear in childhood, but some may develop in adulthood; it is also possible to outgrow a food allergy. Symptoms may include hives, gastrointestinal upset, coughing, dizziness, trouble breathing, and potentially fatal anaphylaxis.

Effective food-allergy management involves strict avoidance of food allergens, including avoidance of cross-contact (i.e., when a food containing an allergen touches a “safe” food during manufacturing or preparation), and readiness to respond to anaphylaxis with epinephrine autoinjectors. The sustained vigilance required in food-allergy management can be associated with a heightened level of anxiety, especially in children and their families, and some may develop a maladaptive pattern of overresponse to perceived risks, exhibited, for example, in overprotection by parents that can in turn undermine their children’s self-confidence and psychosocial functioning.

There is currently no cure for food allergies, but oral immunotherapy, in which small amounts of an allergen are administered orally to patients in gradually increasing amounts, has shown promise in experimental protocols in desensitizing patients to food allergens or decreasing their response to ingested allergens. Depending on the amount of the food allergen that can be tolerated by a particular individual, desensitization may allow patients to consume foods that previously induced an allergic reaction or alleviate concerns about cross-contact.