A number of conditions may mimic a food allergy.
Conditions that may mimic a food allergy:
(1) lactose or fructose intolerance (lactase deficiency)
(2) giardiasis or other gastrointestinal infection
(3) carcinoid syndrome
(4) hot and spicy foods (can result in gustatory rhinitis and irritable bowel)
(5) irritable bowel syndrome (although some cases of irritable bowel syndrome may be food allergies)
(6) scombroid or other food poisoning
(7) gustatory sweating (Frey Syndrome)
(8) reaction to tyramine by a patient taking an MAO inhibitors
(9) food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG)
(10) malabsorption syndrome
(11) histamine intolerance (pseudo-allergy)
Allergic conditions that need to be differentiated from typical food allergies:
(1) celiac sprue disease (gluten sensitivity)
(2) sulfite ingestion by someone with sulfite sensitivity
(3) allergic reactions to drugs, especially those taken orally
