Food allergies and intolerances are among the most common chronic medical conditions in children and adults. In many cases, people are not yet aware that they have an allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance to a particular food or ingredient.
Technically, a food allergy is a medical condition in which exposure to a food or ingredient triggers a harmful immune response. It’s estimated that some 15 million Americans have diagnosed food allergies, including nearly 6 million children under age 18. That’s 1 in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.