We are a very social church and food is one of the many ways in which we share our community spirit.  However, we have a number of people in our congregation, especially children, who have life threatening allergies – some of which are to the more common foods we serve.  Families whose children don’t yet know how to protect themselves must constantly be on alert for the food items their child is allergic to that are inadvertently served or left out for consumption.  Your awareness of these dangers can help protect these vulnerable people.    

Almost all true food allergies are caused by 8 food products:  milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts (which are legumes and not a true nut), walnuts and other nuts, soy, fish and shellfish.  According to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, about 1% of adults and 3% of children suffer from food allergies.  When these common items are hidden as ingredients in other foods, they can be especially dangerous.  

Many foods can cause adverse reactions or intolerances in people such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms.  They are often alleviated with avoidance or antihistamines.  But true food allergies provoke the immune system to react creating a potential dangerous or life threatening condition.  When the body identifies an allergen given off by a particular substance through taste, touch, or even smell, it floods the system with antibodies to fight the invader.  This can lead to a fast and frightening cascade of reactions such as swelling of the face, throat, and other body parts, difficulty breathing, itching, hives, and sometimes nausea and vomiting.  If not reversed, this condition, called anaphylactic shock, can be lethal.  A number of years ago I experienced these symptoms about 15 minutes after receiving an allergy shot.  Thank goodness I had remained at the clinic for the required time instead of driving home right away, or I could have killed myself or others because of the rapidity with which these symptoms came on.       

Anaphylactic shock is immediately treated by an injection of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.  Most people who are aware of their allergy must carry a pre-filled injector of the prescription medication, such as an Epi-pen.  Epinephrine relaxes the airway, constricts blood vessels to help keep the blood pressure up, and reduces hives and itching.  In addition, many susceptible people wear a medic-alert bracelet or necklace that alerts others to their condition.

Adults who work with our youth should become familiar with who in their charge has severe allergies, what foods or other items they’re allergic to, and how to care for the child until medical help arrives.  We as a congregation can help those with allergies by avoiding recipes that include the more common offending foods or at least listing them in any prepared dish served at potlucks or other gatherings. 

While this article is just about foods, there are many other items that are just such as dangerous as allergens such as chemicals, medicines, plants, etc.  The body reacts the same way.  As we raise our awareness of substances that can be dangerous to the immune system, we can practice a little more caution in what we bring to or use in church.   This practice may help save someone’s life. 

Janet Wildeboor, RN, MS

Health Ministries Committee