Children with an allergy to several common food proteins, such as cow’s milk, chicken egg, peanut and soy, have a multiple food allergy (MFA).

For families with a child with multiple food allergies, figuring out which foods to avoid can be challenging, especially at first.

What causes multiple food allergies?

An allergy to more than one food is known as multiple food allergy. When you have a food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a protein in food as something harmful.

Before a reaction occurs, you must have been exposed to the food containing the allergen at least once before. A child may also have a reaction when consuming breast milk. Breastfeeding contains proteins that come from the mother’s diet.

It is not clear what the exact cause of food allergies is. Certain factors may play a role in whether your child has a higher risk of developing food allergies:

• Family members with allergic conditions, such as food allergies, eczema, hay fever or asthma
• Having other food allergies
• Late introduction of common allergens
• An unbalanced intestinal microbiota
• Early exposure to antibiotics
• Living in a city, air pollution

Multiple food allergies are common. Of children with cow’s milk allergy, 25 to 58% also develop other food allergies, such as chicken eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, sesame seeds, fish, crustaceans and shellfish.

Before eliminating foods from your child’s diet, it is important to have a proper diagnosis. Please consult your doctor if you suspect a food allergy.

Symptoms of multiple food allergies

The symptoms of multiple food allergies vary and depend on the specific allergies. Complaints can occur immediately, or a few hours or even days after ingestion of an allergen. The most common symptoms are:

• Vomit
• Diarrhea
• Hives
• Itchy rash
• Swelling of the tongue, mouth or face
• Breathing problems
• Low bloodpressure

Complementary or complete nutrition for multiple food allergies

With a multiple food allergy there is a risk of nutritional deficiencies because specific foods are removed from the diet. If all nutritional needs cannot be met with normal nutritional intake, a doctor or dietician can recommend a medical diet as basic nutrition or to supplement deficiencies. This can be a diet based on individual amino acids. This should only be used under medical supervision.

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