FOOD ALLERGIES Furmano Foods products are specifically formulated to avoid the use of common food allergens.  Since food allergies may extend beyond the FDA’s recognized eight primary categories, we suggest that you carefully read all product labels.   Ninety percent of food allergies reside in eight categories:                            .  Milk                          .  Shellfish                          .  Wheat                       .  Tree Nuts                          .  Egg                           .  Peanuts                          .  Fish                           .  Soy

Q.    What is a Food Allergy? A.  A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly detects as harmful and creates specific antibodies to it. After eating such foods, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, in order to protect the body.  These chemicals trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.

Q.   What is the difference between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance? A.   There is a difference between food allergy and food intolerance.  Food allergies affect the immune system whereas food intolerance affects the hormonal balance of the body.  Symptoms of food intolerance usually include, but are not limited to, diarrhea, gas and nausea.  Reactions to food allergies include skin rashes, belly cramps, blood pressure decrease, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, watery eyes, asthma attacks and respiratory difficulties.  Allergic episodes can even be fatal as a result of anaphylactic shock.   Unfortunately, the only way to avoid suffering from allergic reactions is to avoid them altogether.  Remember, allergies can develop any time during your life.  If you already have known allergies, remember to carry some sort of medical card giving instructions just in case.