Glossary · Medical
Food allergy
When a child has a food allergy, the doctor or allergist gives the family a plan, and daily life centers on reading labels, eating out and sharing the plan. The nine major allergens in the US are milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame.
The common allergens in everyday food
The foods families usually think about are peanut, egg, cow's milk, wheat, soy, tree nuts like cashew and walnut, sesame, fish and shellfish. Since 2023, sesame also has to be named on US food labels. Peanut is a legume, not a tree nut, so peanut and each tree nut are separate foods.
Offering common allergens to babies
Around 6 months, common allergens can join your baby's meals along with other first foods. Most families offer one new allergen at a time, at home, earlier in the day, mixed into a food their baby already eats. Once a food is going well, keep it on the menu regularly. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, talk to your pediatrician before offering peanut or other common allergens.
Living with an allergy plan
If your child has a food allergy, your doctor or allergist gives you a plan. Day to day, families build habits around it:
- Read the ingredient list and the "Contains" line every time, even for foods you buy often.
- Share the plan with daycare, school, grandparents and other parents.
- Cook one family meal without the allergen when you can, so everyone eats together.
- Call restaurants ahead and talk to the manager.
If something seems off
If something seems off after a new food, stop offering it and call your pediatrician. If your child seems very unwell, call your local emergency number right away.
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References
Related terms
Miriel uses this concept across food scans, meal plans, and AI Coach responses where it is relevant to a child's profile. For the underlying clinical and scientific basis, see the research page.