What is the difference between food intolerance and food allergy?

Food intolerance is characterized as a non-immune reaction to food, which means it does not engage the body's immune system. Instead, food intolerances typically occur when an individual is unable to properly digest certain foods due to enzyme deficiencies or other physiological issues. Common examples include lactose intolerance, where the body lacks the enzyme lactase to break down lactose found in dairy products, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort when these foods are consumed.

On the other hand, a food allergy does involve the immune system. In an allergic reaction, the body mistakenly identifies a normally harmless food protein as a threat, triggering an immune response that can lead to symptoms that range from mild (like hives) to severe (like anaphylaxis). This distinction between the immune system's involvement in allergies and the absence of such involvement in intolerances is crucial for understanding how these two conditions manifest and how they should be managed.

The other options inaccurately describe the relationship between the immune system and food allergies or intolerances, leading to misunderstandings about these conditions and their implications for health and dietary choices. Understanding this difference is essential for effective diagnosis, management, and treatment strategies in clinical nutrition and therapy contexts.