Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are immune responses that come on suddenly, can be life threatening and occur with every exposure of a particular food.
If you have a known, medically diagnosed food allergy, tell your medical provider and/or your military training instructor (MTI). Most food allergies start in childhood, but they can develop later on in your life.
Common food allergen include: eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts and wheat. Tell your MTI if you have any of these allergies. Food intolerances come on gradually, are non-life threatening, and do not illicit an immune system response.
Having an allergy requires you to be on guard, do more research, ask more questions, know what’s in the foods you eat and possibly carry medications with you at all times.