People often talk about food allergies and food intolerances and most times use the terms interchangeably. However, even though symptoms can be similar, they are not the same thing.

Food allergies are an over-reaction of the bodies immune system to a specific part of a food, usually the protein component. These proteins are called allergens. Therefore in a food allergy the immune system responds to a harmless substance as if it were toxic. This reaction usually develops very soon after the food is consumed.

A food intolerance on the other hand, is a chemical reaction that some people have after eating or drinking some foods. It is not an immune response. Reactions as a result of food intolerance can develop immediately, but usually occur 12 - 24 hours after consumption and are related to the amount of the food (threshold level) consumed. This amount varies for each person.