What is the difference between an allergic reaction and food intolerance?

What is the difference between an allergic reaction and food intolerance? How
do I avoid it?
I thought that an allergic reaction or an intolerance reaction to food meant the same
thing, but they are very different.
An allergic reaction is an immune system response to the food. This happens very
quickly, often within a couple of hours of eating the food. That is why, when starting
solids, it is recommended to start with only one type of food, and to introduce a new
food after 3 or 4 days. It is also important to start with a teaspoon of the food once a
day, and then increase the amount and frequency slowly to twice a day.
A food intolerance reaction is due to an accumulation of the chemical present in the
food. This occurs over time, but can also manifest very quickly. I think of it as a
bucket that fills up slowly over time and then overflows. Your baby will ingest the food
gradually over a few days, until there is a build up of that chemical reaching a critical
mass, and the intolerance reaction occurs.
The response to an allergic or an intolerance reaction is the same. Your baby may
suffer from vomiting, sudden loose poo or diarrhea, hives, swelling, redness or a rash.
If you think there is a problem, stop the food, even if you are not sure, and see your
doctor or the childhood centre nurse.
We better be sure with our little precious babies!
Kasha Dubinska
Major in Chemistry (Honors) The University of Sydney.
A mother and the producer of Yummy Beginnings DVD for more information
see www.yummybeginnings.com