What is a food allergy? Allergic reactions to food occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks harmless food proteins. The allergic individual’s immune system makes IgE antibodies, special proteins that can detect particular food proteins and that sit on the surface of allergy cells found throughout the body. Like a radar, these IgE antibodies detect the food and alert the cell to pour out chemicals, such as histamines, that result in the allergic symptoms. What are the symptoms of food allergy? Symptoms of food allergy affect the skin (e.g., hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, and face), respiratory system (e.g., shortness of breath, wheezing), and the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., abdominal pain, vomiting). If left untreated, these symptoms can be fatal. Is there a cure for food allergy? Currently, there is no cure for food allergy. Avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction to food. How are food-allergic reactions treated? Some reactions may be controlled by the use of an antihistamine such as Benadryl™. Epinephrine is the medication of choice for controlling severe allergic reactions to food. To learn more about how epinephrine is made available in each country, visit the Food Allergy Around the World section.