Chapter 2 Flashcards
Food safety: Food allergenic and food related illnesses (16 cards)
What is a food allergy?
A serious and possibly life threatening reaction to a certain food or ingredients added to foods
When will an allergic reaction happen?
Can happen within a few seconds, minutes or hours after eating or being in contact with the food and some people can mildly react but others can severely react
What is the name for the severe and dangerous allergic reaction?
ANAPHYLAXIS (shock)
It is caused by the body’s immune system reacting to something in the food and producing histamine
What are the symptoms of the body producing histamine?
-mouth, tongue and throat swell so the person cannot breathe, swallow or speak properly
-they may have difficulty breathing and will wheeze and cough
-blood pressure dangerously low
-weak and unable to stand or sit properly
-collapse and become unconscious
-skin flushed/red
-red/pink itchy rash appears on the skin
-skin swells
-nose and eyes itch
-pain in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting
What causes a food allergy?
Immune system over-reacts to an allergen and produces an antibody called immunoglobulin (IgE) which causes the body to produce chemicals e.g. histamine which causes the symptoms of the allergy
How to avoid an allergic reaction?
Antihistamine - dust, pollen, animals etc but for food allergy avoid eating and being in contact with the food by reading food labels very carefully
How to treat someone with an anaphylaxis reaction?
Stay calm and tell someone to phone ambulance. They should use their epipen which will help to control their symptoms
What is a food intolerance?
The name given to a variety of symptoms that some people experience after they have eaten certain foods e.g. headache, bloating, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea etc.
Usually the advice is to remove the food from the diet that is causing them these symptoms
What is lactose intolerance?
People who cannot digest lactose as they have either no lactase enzyme or not enough so lactose they ingest is not broken down in the small intestine and travels into the large intestine undigested.
Bacteria in the large intestine can lead to…
Bacteria will ferment the lactose and produce gases e.g. co2, methane and hydrogen which causes bloating, fluctuation, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhoea
Causes of lactose intolerance?
Symptoms appear between 5-20 years
Can be passed on genetically or the lining of the small intestine may be damaged by illness (e.g. cancer, malnutrition) causing a reduction in the production of lactase
How to avoid symptoms of lactose intolerance?
To avoid drinking milk, eating milk products or any food product that contains milk on an ingredients list e.g. whey protein, galactose
To buy dairy-free alternatives e.g. oat milk
What is celiac disease?
Autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system causes damage to the villi lining the small intestine when gluten is eaten. Therefore, the damaged villi cannot absorb many nutrients. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, oats and rye and food products that contain them
Side effects of celiac disease?
Malnourished and showing signs of nutrient deficiency as well as other symptoms such as: depression, mouth ulcers, nausea, abdominal pain, cramps, bloating etc
Treatment for celiac disease?
Have to avoid any food that contains gluten (wheat, barley, oats and rye and their products) for the rest of their lives in order to allow the small intestine to recover so normal nutrient absorption can take place
What are the 14 most common allergens that EU FIC states must be declared and emphasised on food labels?
- celery
- cereals that contain gluten (wheat, barley, oats and rye)
- crustaceans
- eggs
- fish
- lupin
- milk
- molluscs
- mustard
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- sesame seeds
- soya beans
- sulphur dioxide and sulphites
