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food allergies occur when the immune system mistakes a food protein as a threat and attempts to protect the body by releasing histamines and other chemicals into the blood. food allergy is different from food sensitivity or intolerance, which does not involve an immune system reaction. you can be born with a food allergy, or it can develop over time.

these eight foods are the root of 90 percent of all food reaction:

Milk
Milk allergies are considered the most common food allergy in children. Milk allergy symptoms include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. milk rarely involves a life-threatening anaphylaxis reaction, which is a whole-body reaction that can cause airways to dangerously tighten. but allergy experts warn that, to be safe, it is important to know that any food, at any time, can cause a severe reaction.

Eggs
Symptoms of an egg allergy include wheezing, nausea, stomachache and hives. Generally, an allergic reaction to eggs occurs a few minutes to a few hours after eating them. This is the second most common food allergy in children. About 68 percent of egg allergies are outgrown by age 16.

Peanuts
About 20 percent of children outgrow peanut allergy around the age of 6. Reactions can range from a mild annoyance to a severe anaphylaxis. Much has been written about peanut allergies and air travel concerns, but the Department of Transportation has left it to the airlines to make their own decisions. People who have had a mild reaction should take precautions.

Soy
Soy, a legume like its cousin the peanut, is a common allergen among infants. Most children outgrow the allergy, but for some, it may persist into adulthood. Symptoms are typically mild, including hives or an itchy mouth, but some sources suggest they can be as extreme as acne and anaphylaxis.

Fish
Fish is a lifelong allergy, and almost half of people with fish allergies first experience symptoms as an adult, which can include swelling, itching, cramps, wheezing, heartburn, dizziness and eczema. People may be allergic to one kind of fish but not another. Fish can lurk in the strangest places, including salad dressing, Worcestershire sauce, meatloaf and barbecue sauce.

Wheat
Wheat allergy can cause stomach upset, eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma and anaphylaxis. Avoiding wheat isn’t easy, as many unsuspecting products contain it, including ice cream and ketchup.

Shellfish
An aversion to shellfish often crops up in adulthood. Along with peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish can produce some of the strong anaphylactic reactions that are considered most dangerous to people with food allergies. There are two kinds of shellfish: crustaceans, like shrimp, crab and lobster, and mollusks, like clams, mussels, oysters and scallops. People may be allergic to crustaceans or mollusks or both. Doctors generally recommend consulting a medical professional to help determine tolerance. Further, if you are allergic to shellfish, that doesn’t mean you will be allergic to bony fish.

Tree nuts
As many as 1.8 million Americans are allergic to tree nuts, which are among the leading causes of fatal reactions to food including anaphylaxis. Tree nuts can be broadly defined to include cashews, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts. (Coconuts and almonds cause some confusion. Technically, they are drupes, but the FDA has classified them – and many other items – as tree nuts.) Tree nuts can be found in salad dressings, honey, pancakes, pasta, veggie burgers and even in barbecue sauce. They are not to be confused with peanuts, which are legumes.

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read article on Yahoo! Shine by Katherine Butler from Mother Nature Network: 8 Most Common Food Allergies