FOOD ALLERGY Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food that is triggered by the immune system. It occurs in about 4- 6% of the total population according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention . It is important for people who have true food allergies to identify them and prevent allergic reactions to food,  because these reactions can cause devastating illness and, in some cases death. An allergic reaction to a certain food is typically a response to a protein in that food. The immune system erroneously identifies that protein as harmful . When a particular protein enters the body, the immune system may create a type of antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) to neutralize the perceived invader.  When the food allegen (food fragments responsible for an allergic reaction) again is ingested, the antibodies that were created earlier can trigger a release of chemicals including histamine. Under normal circumstances, histamine plays a beneficial