Mechanisms in adverse reactions to food. The whole body.

Both immunologic and non-immunologic mechanisms can provoke systemic reactions following food ingestion. Histamine is the only mast cell mediator which has been demonstrated to be elevated in the serum as a result of systemic allergic reactions to food. In individuals highly sensitive to foods, airborne exposure to food allergens can produce anaphylactic reactions. Crossreacting allergens present in some foods and in natural rubber latex can lead to systemic reactions following either latex exposure or food ingestion.