Food intolerance defined

Adverse reactions to food have long been recognised and concern about food and its components has now reached almost epidemic proportions. However, although intolerance to food and food components is not uncommon, there is a tendency to think that all adverse reactions to food are allergies. It is clear, however, that if allergy is taken to imply a specific immune reaction only a minority of unpleasant reactions to food are true 'allergic responses'. This paper explores the issues involved in this complex subject.