General Information

  • Reactions to food are common and can be divided into two categories, those caused by food allergy and all other reactions
  • Food allergies develop when the body’s immune system has an abnormal reaction to one or more proteins in a food that can lead to serious allergic reactions
  • Other food reactions are not caused by the immune system but can cause unpleasant symptoms (examples include lactose intolerance, heartburn, food poisoning, and sensitivities)
  • Wheat allergy is one of the most common food allergies
  • Wheat is a type of grain that is ground into flour
  • 20% of people with wheat allergy are allergic to other grains such as rye, barely or oats

Wheat Avoidance

  • Tell anyone with regular contact with you or your child about the allergy and avoidance of wheat
  • Read labels every time you buy something. Manufacturers can change products at any time
  • Be aware of cross contamination (transfer of wheat to a food that does not normally have wheat as an ingredient)
  • Food ingredients that indicate or may indicate the presence of wheat:
    • Atta
    • Farina
    • Semolina
    • Bulgur
    • Germ
    • Spelt (dinkel, farro)
    • Couscous
    • Gluten
    • Triticale
    • Durum
    • Graham flour
    • Titicum aestivom
    • Einkorn
    • High gluten flour
    • Wheat bran
    • Enriched flour
    • High protein flour
    • Wheat flour
    • White flour
    • Kamut
    • Wheat
    • Whole wheat flour
    • Seitan
    • Wheat starch
  • Some foods that contain or may contain wheat
    • Baked goods (cakes)
    • Communion wafers
    • Natural flavor
    • Baking powder
    • Crackers
    • Pasta
    • Baking mixes
    • Donuts
    • Pie filling
    • Batter fried foods
    • Falafel
    • Potato chips
    • Beer
    • Gelatin / modified starch
    • Play dough
    • Bread
    • Gravy
    • Prepared ketchup/mustard
    • Bread crumbs
    • Hot dogs / processed meat
    • Pudding
    • Candy
    • Hydrolyzed plant protein
    • Salad dressing
    • Candy bars
    • Ice cream
    • Seasoning
    • Cereal
    • Imitation bacon
    • Soy sauce
    • Chutney
    • Marinara sauce
    • Surimi
    • Chicken / beef broth
    • Muffins
    • Tamari

Allergic Reactions

  • Symptoms often occur within minutes up to 2 hours of exposure to wheat
  • Outside Symptoms
    • Face: Redness, itchy eyes / nose, swelling
    • Skin: Itching, redness, hives, swelling
  • Inside Symptoms
    • Face: Swelling lips and tongue, itchy mouth
    • Throat: Itching, tightness, hoarse voice, cough
    • Lungs: Trouble breathing, shortness of breath
    • Stomach: Vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea
    • General: Dizzy, unsteady, drowsy, fainting
  • Not every reaction will look the same, a person can have different symptoms each time
  • Symptoms range from mild to life threatening, there is no way to predict if the reaction will be mild or severe
  • Anaphylaxis is a severe life threatening reaction with more than one body system affected (skin, breathing, stomach, general) and can occur WITHOUT skin symptoms such as hives

Treatment of Reactions

  • Antihistamines such as Benadryl will NOT stop severe reactions
  • An epinephrine auto injector such as Allerject or EpiPen MUST be available at all times
  • If you are visiting an area without access to a hospital you should have 2 auto injectors available
  • A medical identification device such a Medical Alert bracelet should be worn to outline the food allergy and that an epinephrine auto injector is carried
  • Give epinephrine in the outer thigh if there are any of the following symptoms (listed in the table on the previous page)
    • General symptoms
    • Severe outside symptoms
    • Any inside symptoms
    • If you are in doubt, give the epinephrine
  • After epinephrine is given
    • Lie down / lie your child down
    • Call local emergency service and tell them someone is having an allergic reaction
    • If the reaction continues or worsens, give a second dose of epinephrine in 5 - 15 minutes (there is only 1 dose of epinephrine in each auto injector, a second dose requires a new auto-injector)
    • Go to the nearest emergency room even if the symptoms are gone because the reaction can worsen or come back
    • Stay in the hospital for at least 4 - 6 hours of observation

Outcomes for Wheat Allergic Patients

  • The majority of people outgrow the wheat allergy
  • Repeat skin testing and blood work every 1 - 2 years will help determine if the allergy is outgrown
  • An oral food challenge (eating wheat in small steps ONLY in the doctors office) will be offered if your doctor feels it is safe
  • Wheat products should NEVER be tried outside of a doctors office to see if the allergy is outgrown

Additional information: www.anaphylaxis.ca or www.foodallergy.org