Mother’s Day coincides with another special day – the beginning of Food Allergy Awareness Week. May is Allergy Awareness Month, and each year one week is dedicated to food allergy awareness. For 2020, it runs from May 10th to May 16th.

Unfortunately, this virtual event might not see as much fanfare as usual. Since 2016, the Empire State Building has glowed teal during Food Allergy Awareness Week. We’re hoping they continue the tradition this year, but it’s possible they will choose to honor their residents and first responders during this difficult time. Our attention is diverted right now.

But we’re still forging ahead with an update of our food allergy awareness information and top allergen-free recipes. After all, awareness shouldn’t be limited to just one week. We encourage you to use and share this post any time of the year!

Food Allergy, Intolerance, …

Below is a cool diagram that outlines at a glance the differences between what we think of as a classic food allergy and food intolerance.

…or an Allergy that Behaves Like an Intolerance?

But this simple assessment is not the end all be all of possible food reaction issues. Lying somewhere in the middle ground is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) – a condition that hits home for my family – and Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES). Both are immune system reactions to food (like classic food allergies addressed above) but occur specifically in the gastrointestinal tract (like food intolerance). Both EoE and FPIES are typically classified by the medical community as food allergies, but the reaction times may be more delayed and they can onset later in life.

As you may have guessed, milk is a top trigger in all four of the aforementioned food reaction types. For those without an IgE-mediated food allergy reaction (a.k.a. that classic food allergy diagnosis), but who are certain they are reacting to the protein in dairy, not the lactose, EoE and FPIES might be worth looking into. They are both cell-mediated reactions, so traditional IgE testing may not be enough to uncover the issue.

Alisa’s Top 8-Free Recipes

What would Food Allergy Awareness Week be without amazing food? Following are some allergy-friendly and gluten-free recipes that we have enjoyed in my home. All are free of the Top 8 Food Allergens (dairy, egg, wheat / gluten, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish) and for the most are free of the Canadian Top 11 Food Allergens, too!

Top 8-Free Smoothies and Bevies

Top 8-Free Breakfasts

Top 8-Free Meals and Meal-Makers

Top 8-Free Snacks

Top 8-Free Desserts

Want more? See all 1200+ Top-8 Free Recipes and Reviews!

Visual Guides for Food Allergy Awareness Week

Enjoy and share the infographics, printable posters and bookmarks below for visual awareness!

Milk Allergies are Real

Despite being one of the top eight allergens, and increasing in prevalence each year, milk is often ignored as an allergen. When you run across someone who doesn’t believe, help them gain some Respect for Milk Allergies with this post.

The above post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or sway you toward any type of diet. If you believe you have any type of food reaction, consult your physician.