Did you know in over 60% of infants with a
milk allergy there is a family history of one or both parents that had milk allergy?

What is a milk allergy?
We all have an immune system to protect us from infections.  Our immune system attacks the viruses and bacteria that can make us sick.  With a milk allergy, the body’s immune system mistakenly reacts in a similar way to milk proteins, which are
called allergens. 

The immune response to the milk protein and the symptoms that come from that reaction is called an allergic reaction.  The immune response of milk allergy may occur within minutes after a child drinks, or may take several hours or days to develop. 

How common are food allergies?
It is estimated that 6 to 8 out of every 100 infants are allergic to one or more foods.  The 7 most common food allergens are the proteins found in milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, fish and tree nuts. 

However, a child can be allergic to almost any food protein.  Most children outgrow food allergies by the age of three (although an allergy to fish and peanuts may last a lifetime).

Why does a child become allergic to a food?
It is not clearly understood why some children develop an immune response to one or more food proteins.  A child is more likely to have food allergies when other family members have a food allergy or when there is a family history of asthma, hives, hay fever, or eczema.