The document discusses the distinction between food allergies and food intolerances, highlighting that food allergies affect 32 million Americans and can be life-threatening due to immune system reactions. It outlines that while treatments exist, there are no cures for either condition, with medical management including elimination diets for intolerances and epinephrine for severe allergic reactions. Recent advancements, such as the FDA's approval of a drug for treating peanut allergies in children, suggest ongoing research toward better treatment options.

1. Intolerance vs. Allergy
By: Katie McCallum
Millions in the United States alone have an allergic condition, with many of these
allergies being related to food. According to the Food Allergy Research & Education
organization (FARE) 32 million Americans have food allergies. 1 Of those 32 million,
200,000 require emergency medical care for allergic reactions from those foods. A
common misconception is that food intolerance is a food allergy when in actuality that is
its own unique category.
While there are similarities between a food allergy and food intolerance, the main
difference is that a food allergy is typically much more dangerous. A food allergy is
driven directly by the immune system, which means that the symptoms of an allergy
appear quite rapidly.2 With an intolerance, it is never life-threatening (though many food
allergies are) and the symptoms come on more gradually and can take a few hours
before they begin. There are many situations where someone might assume they have
a food tolerance when their symptoms are related to something else. In that situation, it
is best to see a doctor when you feel something is off.
So, what are the treatments for either? For either a food intolerance or allergy,
there are unfortunately no cures at this moment in time. There are several preventative
treatments you can do for a food intolerance though. The most common solution to food
intolerance is an elimination diet, which is the total removal of the problem food from
your diet. Some intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, have medications that can
help to minimize symptoms related to that intolerance. For allergies, however, there are
several treatment methods you can try, and is it possible for children to grow out of their
allergies sometimes.3 The most common allergic reaction medication is Epinephrine,
commonly administered from an EpiPen. These combination products can administer
Epinephrine into the system to stop anaphylaxis, which is a common allergy reaction.
1FARE (2021) Facts and Statistics retrieved on 6/23/2021 from: https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-
statistics
2 Medical News Today (2021) Medical myths: All aboutallergies retrieved on 6/23/2021 from:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-allergies#3.-Food-allergies-and-food-
intolerances-are-the-same
3 MayoClinic (2020) Food allergy retrieved on 6/23/2021 from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/food-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20355095

2. PAGE 2 OF 2
New research is being made every day for allergies and the industry is working
hard to find better solutions to these life-threatening problems. In 2020, FDA approved
the first drug for the treatment of a peanut allergy in children.4 This milestone has paved
the way for many more clinical trials in the future to work towards a cure and a day
when an EpiPen is not the only treatment option. We help products like the EpiPen, get
to market every day. Give us a call today at 248-987-4497 or email
info@emmainternational.com to see how we can help your product get to market
seamlessly.
4FDA (2020) FDA approves firstdrug for treatment of peanut allergy for children retrieved on 6/23/2021 from:
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-treatment-peanut-allergy-
children