• a) Explain the difference between food allergy and food intolerance

Food intolerance

A food intolerance is caused by your body not being able to digest a certain food or an ingredient in food. the most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, as your body lacks the enzymes to break down lactose another common one is gluten (coeliac disease)

Unlike a food allergy, a food intolerance is not caused by your immune system overreacting to certain types of food, which means you cannot have a serious allergic reaction.

Symptoms include

• diarrhoea
• bloating
• farting
• tummy pain

if your GP suspects that you may have a food intolerance you may be reffered to a dietitian whom may do some testing including…

• a special diet where you avoid eating the food you might be intolerant to, to see if your symptoms get better – after a few weeks you start eating the food again to see if your symptoms return
• blood tests
• a breath test if you might be lactose intolerant

You may also be asked to keep a food and symptoms diary to help work out what may be triggering your symptoms.

in specific disease you may also be asked for a biopsy, eg in coeliac disease the only way to confirm you have it is to perform a duodenal biopsy