Food sensitivity tests have become extremely popular in recent years and are a tool for many consumers, who are worried about their health. Are these tests worth your money? Let's look into it!

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy refers to an unusual immune response to  specific foods. Allergic reactions range from mild (such as hives or gastrointestinal symptoms) to very serious (such as anaphylactic shock). Most food allergies are IgE-mediated. IgE is a type of antibody that is responsible for the adverse reaction. Different types of IgE react to specific food allergens. The exact foods that will cause a reaction can be tested for through a simple allergy test. The test measures the level of IgE antibodies present in the blood and which foods a person may have a reaction to.

What is a food intolerance?

Unlike an allergy, a food intolerance involves the digestive system. People with food intolerances are unable to breakdown certain foods, such as lactose. Some people with mild intolerances can even eat very small amounts of the foods without causing any symptoms, but this depends on the type and severity of the intolerance. One exception is celiac disease (gluten intolerance), which is an immune-mediated condition. People who have celiac disease should always avoid products with gluten as they cause an immune reaction and damage the villi which are small finger-like projections that line the inside of the small intestine. The villi help absorb important nutrients, so when people continue to eat gluten, they may end up with vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition. Most food intolerance can be diagnosed by a physician and managed accordingly.

What is a food sensitivity?

The term food sensitivity is not very standardized and often used interchangeably with food intolerance. However, a sensitivity is still different from a food intolerance. For example, lactose intolerance occurs if you lack enough of a certain enzyme, making it hard to digest the milk sugar (lactose) and causing gastrointestinal discomfort. On the other hand, a food sensitivity might cause a delayed reaction and could lead to bloating, inflammation, headaches, and other non-specific symptoms. There is no test for food sensitivities.

What do food sensitivity tests do?

Food sensitivity tests measure the level of IgG antibodies. IgG antibodies are different than IgE: they are also produced in response to certain foods but the presence of specific IgG to food is a marker of exposure. This means presence of IgG is actually a sign of  tolerance to food. According to the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology "positive test results for food-specific IgG are to be expected in normal, healthy adults and children." This test essentially tells you which foods you ate recently.

The problem with food sensitivity tests

The misleading results often lead people to unnecessary dietary restrictions and possible nutritional deficiencies. It causes excessive stress around food and increases the risk of disordered eating behaviors. Additionally, the chance of a false diagnosis increases and the likelihood of addressing the underlying problem (such as a true intolerance) decreases if consumers have this false sense of security.

Why do people feel better after taking the test?

There is no drug more powerful than placebo. Additionally, people are likely to make healthy changes to their diets in response to the false test result. But in these tests cannot test sensitivities, so the reported improvement in symptoms is not due to a correct diagnosis.

What is a good way to determine food sensitivities?

The only evidence-based way to determine sensitivities is an elimination diet. This diet works by removing certain foods, suspected to be causing symptoms for a period of time and then reintroducing them. This challenge period helps determine which foods are causing symptoms. Once the sensitivities are identified, a diet plan is made with a trained dietitian.

How to better invest your money ?

If you are willing to invest into your health, make sure you work with a dietitian, who will help you make a plan tailored to your personal needs but skip unnecessary testing and fake diagnoses!

Sources

The Myth of IgG Food Panel Testing

Celiac Disease Defined

CSACI Position statement on the testing of food-specific IgG

Food Intolerance Versus Food Allergy

Are Food Sensitivity Tests Accurate?

Food Allergies

Researched by Dana Herbsman and Tiffany Wei specifically for Happea Nutrition. Written by Paula Doebrich.