Eggs are a staple in many people’s diets. Easy to cook in many ways and perfect for protein-packed snacks, it makes total sense. However, that assumes no egg allergy. If you think you have an allergy or egg allergy symptoms, this logical and easy snack suddenly becomes inconvenient and, in some cases, downright dangerous. Here are the essential details to get familiar with when looking at your egg-related life: allergy testing, symptoms, and how to enjoy egg-free options.
Egg allergy basics
For the most part, egg allergies are most common in life. Babies and toddlers can have allergies to eggs that they later outgrow. Studies show that introducing eggs to your baby’s diet as soon as possible can reduce their chances of having an egg allergy later in life.
In many cases, egg allergy reactions and mild, and they’ll happen soon after eating the egg. While severe reactions (such as anaphylaxis) are possible, most allergies have mild symptoms, which we’ll discuss below, so you can know what to look for.
Egg allergy symptoms
As mentioned above, egg allergy symptoms are generally mild, with only the occasional severe reaction causing anaphylaxis. The most common egg allergy symptoms include:
Red rash
Swelling in the face
Vomiting or nausea
Stomach upset or cramps
Diarrhoea
Eczema flare-ups
Since these symptoms can be hard to pinpoint in foods, especially if you are introducing your baby or child to a series of new foods, you’ll want to consider allergy testing to know what the problem food is and how to avoid it.
After all, for infants, how can you tell the difference between refusing to eat an egg because they “don’t like it” and because it hurts them? Allergy testing takes the guesswork right out of it.
The egg type matters
Depending on your egg allergy, one egg type may set off an allergic reaction, and another might not. An allergic reaction to an egg is caused by the egg’s protein. If the protein is changed by heat (such as cooking), you might not have an allergic reaction to eggs.
For example, eating scrambled or boiled eggs will likely cause an allergic reaction if you have an egg allergy. However, if you eat a cookie (made partially from beating eggs into the batter), you might not have an allergic reaction. The cooking/processing of the egg in the cookie batter breaks down the protein enough that you might not have an allergic reaction. Statistically, about 80% of those with egg allergies can eat a cookie baked with eggs in the batter.
This is not always the case, of course. After getting your egg allergy diagnosis, you can test to see if eggs in a cookie batter set you off the same way a plate of fried eggs will. If you are reaction-free, you can safely eat cookies, cakes, etc. If you still find you are having an allergic reaction, it might be wiser to find an egg alternative.
Egg-free alternatives to consider
If you have a severe egg allergy or you just want to properly learn how to avoid eggs if you need to, there are plenty of egg alternatives that you can consider! Some of the most common healthy and easy egg alternatives include:
Ground flax seeds
Apple puree
Mashed banana
Chia seeds
There are plenty of recipes online and instructions for using these as egg substitutes when baking so that everyone in the household can enjoy baked goods. If you’re interested, try using these alternatives before allergy testing, or you can wait until afterward to be sure of an egg allergy before changing.
How do I know when to use an egg alternative?
If your test results tell you you have an egg allergy, it’s a good idea to at least consider learning to use an egg substitute like the ones listed above. Not only does it give you flexibility, but it also helps remove any concern that you might have an allergic reaction.
That being said, as we discussed above, you don’t have to use an egg alternative if you are among the 80% of people who can tolerate baked eggs. Most of it concerns personal preference and watching for egg allergy symptoms.
Eggs are staple ingredients in dieting, cooking, and baking. However, many people with egg allergies can still have as much flexibility as anyone else when it comes to dieting, cooking, and baking. It’s all about understanding your allergy, its symptoms, and how they make you feel, and using egg substitutes when you need or want them.
Food allergies occur when you consume allergen foods that your immune systems mistakes for harmful substances. Your body will then release chemicals such as histamines which cause inflammation and thus symptoms of allergy. It doesn’t matter the amount of food you consume with the allergen. You’ll still experience allergy symptoms within a few minutes to a few hours of consumption.
Since there are many common allergens in foods we consume daily, the way allergens are labelled on pre-packed foods has changed. The Food Information Regulation, born in December 2014, also introduced a regulation that food businesses must provide information about allergenic ingredients in any foods they sell {1}. In the UK, there is a list of 14 allergens (which we list in this article) that sellers must list if used in any of their products {2}.
There are mainly 14 common allergens in the UK. The 14 main allergens include:
Gluten and wheat
A wheat allergy occurs when one’s immune system responds to the proteins in wheat. Most children suffer from wheat allergy but tend to outgrow it once they reach ten years of age. On the other hand, gluten allergy or celiac disease occurs when one has an abnormal immune reaction to gluten present in many grains, including wheat. So, when suffering from a gluten allergy or celiac disease, you’ll also need to avoid grains like wheat, rye, barley, and oats. These are often found in flour, baking powder, batter, breadcrumbs, cakes, couscous, meat products, pasta, pastry, sauces, soups, and fried food.
What to look for in food labels
Wheat, Kamut, Einkorn, Faro, Durum wheat, Semolina, Spelt, Barley, Rye, Oat, Malt, and Couscous
Mostly you’ll find sulphites are mostly added to beverages and canned foods to make them last longer. However, some foods like aged cheese and grapes naturally contain sulphates. People with asthma are likely to develop this allergy.
Pickled foods and vinegar, Beer, wine and cider, Dried fruit eg dried apricots, prunes, raisins etc., Maraschino cherries, Tinned coconut milk, Guacamole, Dehydrated, pre-cut or peeled potatoes, Vegetable juices, Bottled lemon juice and lime juice, Some soft drinks, Grape juice, Condiments (bottled sauces etc.), Fresh or frozen prawns, Some processed meat products
Celery
An allergy to celery includes celery leaves, stalks, seeds and the root called celeriac. Celery is present celery in celery salt, salads, meat products, soups and stock cubes.
Crustaceans mostly have hard shells and walk around with jointed legs. These include Crabs, lobster, prawns and scampi. The most common one among them is shrimp paste used in Thai and Southeast Asian cooking.
Fish allergies are pretty common, affecting around 7% of the population. You’ll find that some individuals develop a fish allergy in adulthood too. Fish allergies result from finned fish like tuna, salmon, catfish, and cod. You can be allergic to finned fish and not shellfish since these two have varying proteins that result in allergens.
Barbecue sauce, caesar salad and caesar dressing, soups, barbecue sauce, caponata, pizza, Worcestershire sauce, bouillabaisse, meatloaf, imitation or artificial fish or shellfish), a Sicilian eggplant relish, num pla, dips, gelatine, and relishes.
Lupin
Even though lupin is a flower, it’s also found in flour. You can use lupin flour and seeds in some bread, pastries, and pasta.
What to look for in food labels
Lupine, Lupin flour, Lupin seed, and Lupin bean
Common foods with lupin
Pies, products containing crumbs, pizzas, waffles, pastry cases, pancakes, crepes, vegetarian meat substitutes, and deep-coated vegetables such as onion rings
Milk
Milk allergy is mostly the first seen in children, and while some outgrow this allergy, others don’t. It is also possible to develop milk allergy in adulthood. Proteins like whey and casein are most responsible for an allergic reaction in those suffering from milk allergies.
Mustard seeds contain a primary allergen known as “Sin a 1.” This allergen is still present even when in cooked food. However, brown mustard has a different allergen called “Bra j 1.” Most people allergic to mustard are also allergic to rapeseed.
Most people suffering from peanut allergies often have more tree nut allergies. Tree nuts grow on trees, unlike peanuts which flourish underground. Examples include cashew nuts, almonds and hazelnuts.
What to look for in food labels
Almond, Walnuts, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Pecan Nuts, Brazil Nuts, Pistachio Nuts, Macadamia or Queensland Nuts.
Peanut allergies affect a vast population of people worldwide. Peanuts are also called groundnuts because they’re legumes that grow underground, which is why they’re also known as groundnuts. Often, peanuts are the most common cause of anaphylaxis.
You’ll find sesame seeds in baked foods or used to make certain dips. Sesame is often sprinkled on buns used to make hamburgers and in other foods like breadsticks, houmous, sesame oil and tahini.
What to look for on food label
Sesame seeds, Sesame oil, Gingelly, Gingelly oil, Benne, Benne seed
In rare cases, food allergies can be life-threatening, leading to a severe condition known as anaphylaxis. Even though most symptoms of food allergies only result in skin reactions and digestive issues, anaphylaxis can also happen in rare cases, mostly in peanut allergy cases. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
constricted airways in the lungs
Low Blood pressure and shock
Swelling of the throat and larynx
Most symptoms of anaphylaxis start mild and become life-threatening within minutes of happening. When one suffers from anaphylaxis, you must use an EpiPen on them, and if they don’t have one, you need to contact emergency medical services.
Food allergy test
If you suspect you have food allergies, you may need to go to your doctor and see whether the symptoms you’re witnessing could result from underlying conditions. You’ll need to take an Allergy Test home test kit if everything is ruled out. Sometimes figuring out which food is causing you allergy symptoms can be difficult because we consume different foods simultaneously. An allergy test kit will show you which foods you’re allergic to so you can avoid them.
