Differences between a food allergy and an intolerance

Published

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 12:00 PM

At one time or another, you’ve probably come across someone who is lactose intolerant and might experience some unpleasant gut symptoms if they have dairy. Maybe it’s you – food intolerances are estimated to affect up to 25% of Australians.

Meanwhile, cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in infants and young children, affecting around one in 100 infants.

But what’s the difference between food allergies and food intolerances? While they might seem alike, there are some fundamental differences between the two.

Read the full article by Associate Professor Jennifer Koplin, Centre for Food Allergy Research (CFAR) Chief Investigator, and Dr Desalegn Markos Shifti, CFAR Postdoctoral Fellow, in The Conversation.