Food Allergies

If you or your child has food allergies, we understand your challenges and concerns — and you’re not alone. At Henry Ford Health, you have a dedicated team of food allergy specialists on your side.

We offer the latest treatments for food allergies with a compassionate approach. You receive expert care to help you live your healthiest life with confidence.

Why choose Henry Ford Health for food allergy treatment?

Our allergists offer exceptional care for food allergies in people of all ages. Highlights of our care include:

• Advanced testing: We offer comprehensive food allergy testing, including component-specific blood tests for allergens. We are one of only a few centers in the region to offer this test, which provides more details than standard food allergy blood tests.
• Food challenge expertise: Oral food challenges can provide valuable information about food allergies, but they require a skilled team and strict safety measures. We offer oral food challenges in our clinic, providing close monitoring and access to immediate, expert care throughout the process.
• Research leaders: Our specialists are actively studying breakthroughs in food allergy detection and treatment. With our knowledge and expertise, we offer you the full range of tests, medications and immunotherapy options for food allergies, which may not be available elsewhere.

How we diagnose food allergies

An accurate diagnosis is the first step to treating food allergies. Our experts listen to your concerns and discuss your symptoms before recommending tests, which may include:

Blood tests

These tests look for IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies in your blood, which can be a sign of allergies. Our specialists take this test a step further by looking for specific components inside the antibodies to determine which protein is causing the allergy. This is called component testing.

Oral food challenges

If it’s not clear whether you’re allergic to a food, we do oral food challenges. This type of testing is the current gold standard for diagnosing food allergies. It involves eating a small amount of the food in question under close medical supervision. This test can be done for adults and children, and can also help determine if you have outgrown a food allergy. Our team is skilled in providing immediate, lifesaving care if you have an allergic reaction.

Skin prick tests

During a skin prick test, your allergist places a small drop of a solution that contains an allergen on your skin, usually on your arm or back. Then, they use a small plastic device to create a tiny scratch in your skin.

Not all positive skin prick tests indicate a food allergy, however. Our team understands the limitations of these tests and also uses medical history, blood tests and oral food challenges, when needed, to determine a precise diagnosis.

Food allergy treatments we provide

Doctors cannot cure food allergies, but there are many ways we can help prevent severe reactions. In some cases, children can outgrow food allergies.

We provide evidence-based therapies and an allergy action plan to help you or your child thrive. Your plan may include:

Dietary guidance and education

The first step to managing a food allergy is to avoid the food altogether. Education is an essential part of this process. We provide all the customized dietary guidance, comprehensive education and compassionate support you need to stay safe and feel your best.

We show you how to:

• Read food labels to detect hidden allergens and possible cross-contamination
• Safely eat at school, restaurants or social gatherings
• Recognize early symptoms of an allergic reaction
• Administer an epinephrine injection using an EpiPen® in an emergency

Oral immunotherapy (OIT)

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) gradually exposes you to a food you’re allergic to in tiny, progressively larger amounts in our clinic. This therapy can teach your immune system to tolerate the food, so you can gradually consume larger amounts without a reaction occurring.

OIT requires a trained staff that can offer lifesaving care in the event of an emergency. Our expert team ensures all necessary safety precautions are in place so you can feel secure and confident.

Biologic medications

Biologics target specific parts of your immune system to reduce the risk of having a severe allergic reaction to a food. Our specialists carefully review your needs to determine if these medications may be beneficial for you.