Reliable Food Allergen Information
Obtaining accurate information around Major Food Allergens can be confusing and frustrating, especially when you just discover that you or a person you love has a food allergy.
This site is carefully researched and aims to present accurate, up-to-date information regarding Major Food Allergens. It is meant to serve all who are seeking - safety, understanding, information, recipes, resources - around food allergies. As a mother who lives an allergen-controlled life, for both myself and my family members, I have developed this material over the last 20+ years and desired a safe space to share it and communicate with others who walk a similar path.
I have included pages for each of the FDA-recognized Major Food Allergens - 9 in all. I also offer information around the other numerous other foods a human can have an allergic response to, which are not on the FDA’s list of major food allergens. It is my hope for you to feel a little bit less alone and a lot more educated about allergens and how to deal with them in a sane, reliable way throughout your daily life.
— Michelle HW Hill, Culinary Allergen Specialist
Start here: What is an allergen?
A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies specific proteins in food as harmful and launches an immune response. At the molecular…
Common Food Allergens with Allergenic Component
A reference table of foods and the specific proteins responsible for allergic reactions.
The 9 major food allergens
Each overview explains the allergenic proteins, how reactions develop, symptoms, and where the allergen hides in food.
Milk (Dairy)
Casein and Whey proteins are the two major allergenic proteins found in milk.
Egg
Egg Yolk and Egg White as Food Allergens in the Human Body
Fish
Fish allergy is a serious IgE-mediated food allergy that occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies certain fish proteins as…
Crustacean Shellfish
Shellfish allergy is a common IgE-mediated food allergy that occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies certain proteins in…
Tree Nuts
Removed from the FDA list in January 2025: beech nut, butternut, chestnut, chinquapin, coconut, ginkgo, hickory nut, lychee nut, palm nut…
Peanut
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are one of the most common and potent food allergens, capable of triggering severe allergic reactions, including…
Wheat
Wheat allergy is an immune system reaction to proteins found in wheat (Triticum aestivum). It is distinct from celiac disease and…
Soy
Soy allergy is an immune system reaction to proteins found in soybeans (Glycine max). It is one of the most common food allergies…
Sesame
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) allergy is a serious IgE-mediated food allergy that is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Sesame is a potent…
Beyond the Big 9
Coconut, latex, alpha-gal, food dyes and other reactions that fall outside the FDA’s major allergen list.
Coconut
Coconut can act as an allergen in humans, but it is relatively uncommon compared to tree-nut allergy (botanically, coconut is not a tree…
Latex
Latex Allergens (Hev b 6, Hev b 8, Hev b 12) and Their Cross-Reactivity
Alpha-gal Syndrome
Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is a delayed-onset IgE-mediated allergy to red meat caused by sensitization to alpha-gal…
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), aka Pollen-food Allergy Syndrome
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also known as pollen-food allergy syndrome, is a type of food allergy that occurs in people who are allergic to certain…
Food Dyes
Food dye allergies and intolerances are adverse immune or non-immune reactions to artificial or natural food colorings found in processed foods…
Gardenia Fruit as Food Dye
Soy protein—particularly its amino acid content—is used in the manufacture of gardenia blue dye to provide the nitrogen-rich compounds necessary for…
Latest articles
Gardenia Fruit as Food Dye
Soy protein—particularly its amino acid content—is used in the manufacture of gardenia blue dye to provide the nitrogen-rich compounds necessary for…
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), aka Pollen-food Allergy Syndrome
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also known as pollen-food allergy syndrome, is a type of food allergy that occurs in people who are allergic to certain…
Common Seed Allergens and Their Cross-Reactivity
Comparison of Common Seed Allergens and Their Cross-Reactivity
Latex-Fruit Syndrome and Its Impact on Tree Nut Allergies
Latex-Fruit Syndrome is a cross-reactivity phenomenon where individuals allergic to latex develop allergic reactions to certain fruits and nuts due…
Macadamia Nut: Cross-Reactivity with Other Food Groups
Cross-Reactivity of Macadamia Nuts with Other Food Groups
Epitope Mapping of Cashew Allergens (Anacardium occidentale)
Epitope mapping is a crucial process in understanding how IgE antibodies recognize specific regions of cashew allergenic proteins. This helps in…
Tree nut profiles
Botanical, allergenic and nutritional overviews for each tree nut on the FDA list.
Almond
Prunus dulcisThe U.S. FDA classifies almonds as a major food allergen, requiring clear labeling on food products.
Brazil Nut
Bertholletia excelsaBotanical Characteristics of Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa)
Cashew
Anacardium occidentaleBotanical Characteristics of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
Hazelnut (Filbert)
Corylus avellanaBotanical Characteristics of Hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
Macadamia Nut
Macadamia integrifolia, M. tetraphyllaUnlike other FDA-listed major tree nuts, macadamia nuts have a lower prevalence of allergic reactions…
Pecan
Carya illinoinensisBotanical Characteristics of Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)
Pine Nut
Pinus spp.Botanical Characteristics of Pine Nuts (Pinus spp.)
Pistachio
Pistacia veraBotanical Characteristics of Pistachio (Pistacia vera)
Walnut
Juglans regia, J. nigraThis page covers walnuts (Juglans spp., family Juglandaceae), including English walnut (Juglans regia), black…