Sneaky Sources of Common Food Allergens

Picture this: your doctor tells you that you have been diagnosed with a dairy allergy. When you heard the word “dairy” you probably pictured foods like butter, cheese, ice cream, and yoghurt. However, dairy can also found in other household items including hand soap, lotion, and pet food! Being aware of non-food sources of allergens is important in order to avoid mysterious allergic reactions that seemingly come out of nowhere.

1. Cosmetics and Shower Products

Item / Product	Potential Allergens
Soap	soy, milk, nut oils
Shampoo	wheat, nut oils, soy
Lotions and creams	nut oils, sesame oils, wheat
Makeup	wheat, sesame oil
Body scrubs	Nut fragments and oils, milk
Sunscreen	nut oils, soy
Chapstick and lip gloss	nut oils, soy, fish
Hairspray, dry shampoo	wheat, gluten

2. Toys and Art Supplies

Item / Product	Potential Allergens
Play dough / modeling clay	wheat, gluten
Stuffed toys	nut fragments, wheat
Science kits	wheat, gluten, eggs
Chalk	milk
Paint	Eggs (tempura paint), milk, wheat
Sensory kits	possibly all top 9 allergens, gluten
Paper Mache	wheat, gluten
Macaroni art	wheat, gluten, eggs
Homemade musical instruments	nuts
Crayons	soy

3. Dental and Health Products

Item / Product	Potential Allergen
Toothpaste	milk (“Recaldent”) can be found in whitening toothpaste or in varnish/mousse applied by a dentist
Vitamin gummies	Milk, eggs, soy, wheat, gluten, fish, shellfish
vaccines	eggs (flu vaccine)
medication	potentially all
Nutritional supplements	nuts, fish, shellfish, soy

4. Pet Supplies

Item / Product	Potential Allergens
bird feeders	wheat, nuts, peanuts, seeds, sesame
Cat liter	peanuts and nuts
fish food flakes	fish, shellfish
cat food and treats	milk, eggs, fish
dog food, treats, and bones	peanuts, milk, fish, soy, wheat
Exotic animal food	potentially any
duck food	wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, milk
Petting zoo and livestock feed	wheat, gluten, nuts, fish oils, soy

5. Alcohol

Item / Product	Potential Allergens
Beer	wheat, gluten
Wine	egg (“albumen”), shellfish and fish (“Chitosan”), milk (“casein”), wheat, and gluten
Whiskey, Bourbon, gin, ale	nuts, gluten, and wheat
vodka	gluten, wheat
cocktails	milk (pina colada), soy, wheat, nuts
Liqueur	milk, nuts

6. Other sneaky sources

Item / Product	Potential Allergens
Furniture	Nuts, wheat
Artificial fireplace logs	Nuts
candles	soy, sesame, nuts, milk
chewing gum	soy, gluten
Potting soil	nuts, wheat, shellfish
Infant formula	Milk, soy, gluten
Coffee	Milk, nuts

Hidden sources of food allergens in food or non-food items can make avoiding an allergen difficult. Allergic reactions can result from consumed allergens, but also from touching or inhaling an allergen by accident. Reading labels on all products (not just food!) can be a solution to avoiding hidden allergens, but if no ingredients are provided, then researching the item or calling the company with questions may offer answers.

Article Sources:

https://www.dcallergy.com/blog/unexpected-allergens-in-non-food-items