Food allergies can cause serious health issues to those that are allergic to certain food compounds. A food allergy is an immune system response to a specific chemical compound or food. People that suffer from food allergies do not need to eat a lot of a specific food to have a severe allergic reaction, here is some more information on food allergies. About 2% to 5% of people suffer from specific food allergies. The most common food allergies are from milk, nuts, soy, whey and eggs. Many people are familiar with the danger of people that are allergic to peanuts. Some people that develop severe allergies must stay away from specific ingredients. For some food sufferers, a specific food allergy can cause dangerous side effect and can result in death. Food allergies differ from food intolerance. Many people think they are both the same ailment. Food intolerance such as an upset stomach from drinking too much milk is very different from a food allergy. Food intolerance is an irritation and not an immune system reaction. With food intolerances, you might need to drink a whole glass of milk to have a reaction; with an allergy just a drop of milk is necessary. For more information on food allergies, consult with your physician.