You’d Better Watch Out: Christmas Allergies
Last Updated: 10th November 2022 · Written by Kate Young
Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year, but if you suffer from food allergies, the festive season can be hard to navigate. Whether you’re attending parties, planning your Christmas dinner, or receiving edible presents, there are lots of opportunities to come into contact with potential allergens.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through some of the most common Christmas allergies. Whatever your plans this year, it’s important to watch out for foods which could trigger an allergic reaction and ruin your festive fun.
Nuts
Around 1 in 200 adults in the UK are allergic to nuts – and this number is growing. If you’re among them, it can be much harder to avoid nuts during the Christmas period. It’s not just chestnuts roasting on an open fire that you’ll have to watch out for; everything from Christmas puddings to chocolate selection boxes could contain this common allergen.
Gluten
A gluten allergy, or coeliac disease, is more dangerous than an intolerance and can affect your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. At Christmas, it can be harder than ever to avoid gluten. This is because it’s commonly used to bind meat products, such as stuffing and chipolatas, as well as appearing in more obvious culprits like cake, biscuits, and puddings.
Dairy

Brandy butter, cream liqueurs, chocolate – many of the foods we associate with Christmas are a minefield for those with a dairy allergy. The good news is there are lots of dairy-free alternatives of your favourite foods, enabling you to enjoy classic Christmas fare without the worry.
Eggs
It can sometimes be difficult to detect egg in certain food products, as it’s commonly used ‘behind the scenes’ as a binder or pastry wash. Always check whether stuffing, mince pies, and other pastry items contain egg before you take a bite. Be careful with marzipan, too, as it’s often made with egg whites.
Love marzipan but allergic to eggs? It’s possible to make the traditional treat egg-free by combining powdered sugar with ground almonds and water!
Order Your Allergy Test Today
It might not be the most exciting gift under your tree, but it’s vital to get a reliable allergy test if you suspect you’re suffering from a food allergy. At Lifelab Testing, we offer a variety of allergy and intolerance tests, ranging from our basic tests to our complete body test. Why not let us help you ease your worry? Order a home test kit today and prevent any nasty symptoms ruining your Christmas.
