You might be disappointed to learn that IgG food sensitivity tests aren’t reliable. Here, we discuss whether you may want to consider taking a food allergy test instead.
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Quick look at food allergy tests
- For self-administered finger prick: Everlywell Food Allergy Test | Skip to review
- For professionally administered blood draw: Labcorp Food Allergy Test | Skip to review
- For professional blood draw with in-home options: Quest Food Allergy Test Panel | Skip to review
Figuring out if specific foods are causing unwanted symptoms is a complicated process, as food sensitivities are still not well understood. And, so far, no food sensitivity blood panel can accurately and definitively diagnose food sensitivities.
Food allergy tests, however, may provide information about foods that are potentially dangerous for you.
We’ll explain what we know about food sensitivities and why food allergies can be easier to diagnose. We also explore what else may be going on if you think your symptoms might be related to a specific food.
Food sensitivity vs. food allergy vs. food intolerance
The terms “food sensitivity,” “food allergy,” and “food intolerance” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
- Food sensitivity: Food sensitivities are believed to result fromTrusted Source an immune reaction driven by antibodies such as immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA), along with other cell-mediated reactions in your body in response to specific food or groups of foods. Symptoms may include digestive distress (gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain), joint pain, brain fog, and migraine. These symptoms may be subtle or may not happen right away. Food sensitivities are not life threatening.
- Food allergy: This is a severe immune response to a food, which is often caused by increased production of an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Symptoms occur within 2 hours and may includeTrusted Source hives, tongue swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and dizziness. Food allergies can be life threatening.
- Food intolerance: This occursTrusted Source when your body lacks certain enzymes necessary to break down a food. It may cause stomach upset or other digestive problems, but it’s not related to your immune system and is not life threatening.
Are food sensitivity tests reliable?
In short: No. There’s limited evidence to support using a food sensitivity test at home.
Many of these testsTrusted Source measure your body’s immune response to a variety of foods by testing the levels of certain antibodies in your blood, such as IgG and IgG4, after you’re exposed to various food antigens.
Yet 2016 researchTrusted Source suggests that the presence of these antibodies may not be an accurate or reliable marker of food sensitivity, especially because many other antibodies and cell-mediated reactions may also be involved in food sensitivities.
What’s more, many of the studies that companies cite to support using these tests are outdated or have been published in unreputable journals.
Some tests claim to help you understand how your body may respond to certain foods based on factors such as your genetic background. However, the research is limitedTrusted Source surrounding genetic testing and food allergies and sensitivities.
Multiple organizations, including the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyTrusted Source and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), have advised against using these tests to diagnose food sensitivities.
Notably, food sensitivity tests are not a replacement for a personalized care plan from a doctor or registered dietitian.
Could it be a food allergy
If you experience symptoms, including hives, itching, and swelling after eating certain foods, it’s important to rule out food allergies, which can be quite serious. In some cases, food allergies may lead to anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening.
Doctors commonly use certain tests to diagnose food allergies:
- Skin test: This type of test involves pricking your skin with a probe that contains a small amount of food allergen and monitoring your reaction.
- Blood test: This test helps determine whether you are allergic to specific foods by measuring the amounts of certain antibodies in your blood.
- Oral food challenge: This procedure involves consuming small amounts of a suspected allergen under the supervision of a doctor. They will keep emergency equipment and medication on hand in case of a severe reaction.
Learn more about food allergy testing.
A note on at-home food allergy tests
For people who suspect they may have mild food allergies, an at-home food allergy test may be a first step in identifying potentially problematic foods.
The “first step” part is important. At-home food allergy tests are not as comprehensive or conclusive as food allergy tests administered by a medical professional. In particular, there are concerns about the high rate of false positives associated with them.
The AAAAI does not currently endorse the use of at-home allergy testing. Additionally, at-home food allergy tests cannot officially diagnose a food allergy. At best, these tests may help reveal the potential for a food allergy, which can only truly be diagnosed by a doctor.
If your results suggest that you may have a potential allergy, make an appointment with an allergist to ensure accurate interpretation and establish a follow-up plan.
Finally, these tests are not suitable for people with severe allergy symptoms.
At-home food allergy tests
For self-administered finger prick
Everlywell Food Allergy Test
- Collection method: finger prick
- Results in: 5 to 7 days
- Tests for: allergen-specific antibodies reacting to almond, cow’s milk, egg white, egg yolk, peanut, shrimp, soy, tuna, wheat
- Price: $149.00
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
The Everlywell Food Allergy Test measures your body’s IgE reactivity to nine food allergens: cow’s milk, egg white, egg yolk, soy, shrimp, tuna, wheat, peanut, and almond.
As with the company’s other tests, your sample will be processed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified lab, and an independent, board certified physician will review and approve your results.
You’ll need to take your sample at home and mail it in. Everlywell says you should be able to access your results through the company’s secure platform within weeks.
If your results indicate a possible food allergy, a nurse from Everlywell will contact you to discuss the next steps.
Pros & cons
Product details
For professionally administered blood draw
Labcorp Food Allergy Test
- Collection method: blood sample
- Results in: 3 to 4 days
- Tests for: allergen-specific antibodies reacting to corn, codfish, clam, egg white, milk, peanut, scallop, sesame seed, shrimp, soybean, walnut, wheat
- Price: $199.00
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
This food allergy test from Labcorp measures IgE antibody levels in your blood for 12 potential food allergens.
Once you buy the test on the company’s website, you receive a requisition number, which you can bring to any Labcorp location to provide a blood sample.
You can view your test results (our tester received hers in 2 days) on the Labcorp patient portal and download an official report, which you can bring to a healthcare professional for further guidance.
What our tester says
Pros & cons
Product details
For professional blood draw with in-home options
Quest Food Allergy Test Panel
- Collection method: blood sample
- Results in: 2 to 5 days
- Tests for: allergen-specific antibodies for almond, cashew nut, codfish, cow’s milk, egg white, hazelnut, peanut, salmon, scallop, sesame seed, shrimp, soybean, tuna, walnut, wheat
- Price: $189.00
*Price may vary.
Healthline’s review
After purchasing the test online, you can schedule an appointment at a Quest Patient Service Center to provide a blood sample, which is collected by a trained professional. Once your sample has been processed, you can access your results online using the secure patient portal on QuestHealth.com.
In certain areas, in-home service may be available for an additional fee. If you opt for this service, a mobile phlebotomist will schedule an appointment to collect a sample at your home.
It’s still recommended that you review your results with a healthcare professional to confirm any food allergies after taking this test.
This panel tests for 15 food-related allergens by measuring levels of IgE antibodies in your blood.
It’s recommended for those who experience mild allergy symptoms after eating certain foods but not for those with more severe symptoms, such as tingling or itching of the mouth, dizziness, and swelling of the throat or airways.
Another unique benefit of the Quest Food Allergy Panel is that if your test shows abnormal allergy levels for peanut, milk, walnut, cashew nut, or egg, the company will run additional tests on your sample at no extra charge.
After the follow-up testing is processed, you’ll be provided with specific protein information to share with an allergist or another qualified healthcare professional.
Pros & cons
Product details
A note for New York residents
At-home test kits are not available to ship to New York state because of state regulations around testing.
Measure your response to 9 common food allergens
Everlywell’s at-home Food Allergy Test includes free shipping and physician-reviewed online results. Use code HEALTHLINE25 for 25% off your order.
Food allergy tests compared
–
Price
Type
Tests for
$149
at-home
blood sample
almond, cow’s milk, egg white
egg yolk, peanut, shrimp, soy,
tuna, wheat
$199
in-person
blood draw
egg white, milk, wheat, corn, codfish,
clam, shrimp, scallop, peanut, walnut,
soy, sesame seed
$179*
in-person
blood draw
almond, cashew, codfish, cow’s milk
egg white, hazelnut, peanut, salmon,
scallop, sesame seed, shrimp, soy, tuna, walnut, wheat
*Additional fees apply for in-home service. Price does not include $6 physician fee.
Other reasons you might be having GI symptoms
According to Clarke, many conditions may cause symptoms that can be incorrectly attributed to food sensitivity, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, gallstones, and peptic ulcers.
Other potential culprits include:
- Stress: Feeling stressed can cause symptoms such as digestive issues, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
- Dehydration: In addition to dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue, not drinking enough water can also leadTrusted Source to issues such as constipation.
- Sleep deprivation: Getting poor or inadequate sleep can causeTrusted Source brain fog, trouble focusing, and digestive symptoms.
- Medications: Certain medications can cause side effects that may be similar to symptoms of a food sensitivity, including nausea, diarrhea, headaches, runny nose, and fatigue.
- Dietary habits: What you eat and drink can greatly affect your digestive system and may contribute to issues such as bloating. Some nutritional deficiencies can also contributeTrusted Source to brain fog, fatigue, and depression.
- Food intolerance: Food intolerances may result in GI-related symptoms if your body cannot digest certain foods. Common sources of food intolerance include lactose, caffeine, sulfites, certain food additives, and fructose, which is a type of sugar found in fruits.
What should you do if you think you have a food sensitivity?
- Start a food and symptom journal: This can help you notice patterns to determine whether certain ingredients may be causing digestive issues or other symptoms. If you prefer not to keep a written record, several apps can make logging more convenient.
- Make an appointment with a doctor or dietitian: A health professional can help you rule out other potential causes of symptoms and determine whether you may have a food allergy or intolerance. They may also recommend an elimination diet to help identify potential trigger foods.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, check out our FindCare tool here.
Frequently asked questions
Do food sensitivity tests actually work?
What is the most accurate test for food sensitivities?
What is the best test for food intolerance?
How accurate is the Everlywell food sensitivity test?
The bottom line
Taking a food sensitivity test at home is not currently considered a reliable or accurate method of diagnosing food sensitivities.
An at-food allergy test may reveal a potential for a food allergy, but only a medical doctor can provide a true diagnosis.
If you experience symptoms after eating certain foods, it’s best to talk with a health professional. They can rule out other potential causes, determine the best course of treatment, and provide guidance on necessary dietary changes.
Last medically reviewed on March 16, 2024
How we reviewed this article:
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Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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Jun 10, 2024
Written By
Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
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Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT, Nutrition — Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on June 10, 2024
Nutrition
Evidence Based
How to Do an Elimination Diet and Why
An elimination diet helps you discover what foods you may have an allergy or intolerance to. Here, we show you how it works and how to do it.
Food intolerances and sensitivities are extremely common. Up to 20% of people worldwide may experience a food intolerance (1Trusted Source).
Elimination diets identify food intolerances, sensitivities, and allergies through diet.
They remove foods known to cause uncomfortable symptoms and reintroduce them later while testing for symptoms.
Allergists and registered dietitians have been using elimination diets for decades to help people rule out foods that are not tolerated well.
What is an elimination diet?
An elimination diet involves removing foods from your diet you suspect your body can’t tolerate well. The foods are later reintroduced, one at a time, while you look for symptoms that show a reaction.
It lasts only 5–6 weeks and is used to help those with a sensitive gut, food intolerance, or food allergy identify which foods contribute to their symptoms (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
An elimination diet may alleviate symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea.
Once you have identified a food your body can’t tolerate well, you can remove it from your diet to prevent uncomfortable symptoms.
There are many types of elimination diets, which all involve eating or removing specific foods.
However, if you have a known or suspected food allergy, you should try an elimination diet only under the supervision of a medical professional. Reintroducing a food allergen may trigger a dangerous condition called anaphylaxis (4Trusted Source).
If you suspect you have a food allergy, check with a doctor before starting an elimination diet. Symptoms of an allergy include rashes, hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing (5Trusted Source).
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How does it work?
An elimination diet is divided into two phases: elimination and reintroduction.
The elimination phase
During the elimination phase of about 2-3 weeks, you remove foods you suspect trigger symptoms.
Eliminate foods you think your body can’t tolerate and foods that cause uncomfortable symptoms.
These foods include nuts, corn, soy, dairy, citrus fruits, nightshade vegetables, wheat, gluten, pork, eggs, and seafood.
During this phase, you can determine whether your symptoms are due to foods or something else. If your symptoms remain after removing the foods for 2–3 weeks, contact a doctor.
The reintroduction phase
You slowly bring eliminated foods back into your diet during the reintroduction phase.
Each food group should be introduced individually over 2–3 days while looking for symptoms. Some symptoms to watch for include:
- rashes and skin changes
- joint pain
- headaches or migraines
- fatigue
- difficulty sleeping
- changes in breathing
- bloating
- stomach pain or cramps
- changes in bowel habits
If you do not experience symptoms during the reintroduction phase, you can assume that the food group is acceptable and move on to the next group.
However, if you experience adverse symptoms like those mentioned, then you have identified a trigger food and should remove it from your diet.
The entire process, including elimination, takes roughly 5–6 weeks.
If you plan to eliminate many food groups, seek advice from your doctor or a dietitian. Eliminating too many food groups may cause a nutritional deficiency.
What can’t you eat on an elimination diet?
The most effective elimination diets are the most restricting.
The more foods you remove during the elimination phase, the more likely it is that you will discover which foods trigger symptoms.
Foods that are commonly removed during the elimination phase include:
- Citrus fruits: Avoid citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits.
- Nightshade vegetables: Avoid nightshades, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, white potatoes, cayenne pepper, and paprika.
- Nuts and seeds: Eliminate all nuts and seeds.
- Legumes: Eliminate all legumes, such as beans, lentils, peas, and soy-based products.
- Starchy foods: Avoid wheat, barley, corn, spelt, rye, oats, and bread. Also avoid other gluten-containing foods.
- Meat and fish: Avoid processed meats, cold cuts, beef, chicken, pork, eggs, and shellfish.
- Dairy products: Eliminate all dairy, including milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
- Fats: Avoid butter, margarine, hydrogenated oils, mayonnaise, and spreads.
- Beverages: Avoid alcohol, coffee, black tea, soda, and other sources of caffeine.
- Spices and condiments: Avoid sauces, relish, and mustard.
- Sugar and sweets: Avoid sugar (white and brown), honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup, agave nectar, desserts, and chocolate.
According to a 2023 study, nightshade vegetables may potentially cause gastrointestinal reactions in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These vegetables may trigger uncomfortable symptoms (6Trusted Source).
Restrictive diets can be harmful, lead to nutritional deficiencies, and cause an adverse psychological impact, resulting in disordered eating and eating disorders. Consult with a doctor or registered dietitian before beginning an elimination diet.
If you suspect that other foods not on this list make you feel uncomfortable, consider removing them also.
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What can you eat on an elimination diet?
Although an elimination diet is very restricting, there is still enough variety to make healthy and delicious meals.
Some foods you can eat include:
- Fruits: Most fruits, excluding citrus fruits.
- Vegetables: Most vegetables, excluding nightshades.
- Grains: Including rice, buckwheat, or quinoa.
- Meat and fish: Including turkey, lamb, wild game, and cold-water fish like salmon.
- Dairy substitutes: Including coconut milk and unsweetened rice milk.
- Fats: Including cold-pressed olive oil, flaxseed oil, and coconut oil.
- Beverages: Water and caffeine-free herbal teas.
- Spices, condiments, and others: Including black pepper, fresh herbs and spices (excluding cayenne pepper and paprika), and apple cider vinegar.
To stay motivated during this restrictive phase, try designing new recipes and experimenting with herbs and spices to add delicious flavor to your dishes.
Other types of elimination diets
Besides the traditional elimination diet described, there are several other elimination diets.
Here are a few types of elimination diets:
- Low-FODMAPs diet: Removes FODMAPs, which are short-chain carbohydrates that some people can’t digest.
- Few foods elimination diet: This involves eating a combination of foods you don’t eat regularly. One example is the lamb and pears diet, popular in the United States, where lamb and pears are not commonly eaten.
- Rare foods elimination diet: Similar to a few foods diet, but you eat only foods you rarely eat because they are less likely to trigger your symptoms. Typical foods on a rare diet include yams, buckwheat, and starfruit.
- Fasting elimination diet: Involves strictly drinking water for up to 5 days, then reintroducing food groups. This diet should be done only with permission from a doctor because it can be dangerous.
- Other elimination diets: These include lactose-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, and wheat-free diets, among others.
Benefits of an elimination diet
Elimination diets help you discover which foods cause uncomfortable symptoms so you can remove them from your diet.
However, an elimination diet has many other benefits, including:
1. It may reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
IBS is a common gut disorder that affects around 11.2% of people worldwide (7Trusted Source).
Many people find that an elimination diet improves IBS symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps, and gas.
In a 2004 study, 150 people with IBS followed either an elimination diet that excluded trigger foods or a fake elimination diet that excluded the same number of foods but not ones linked to symptoms.
People who followed the actual elimination diet reduced their symptoms by 10%. Those who best stuck to the diet reduced symptoms by up to 26% (8Trusted Source).
2. It may help people with eosinophilic esophagitis
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a chronic condition in which allergies trigger inflammation of the esophagus, the tube that delivers food from mouth to stomach.
People with EE have difficulty swallowing foods that are dry and dense, increasing their risk of choking.
Many studies have shown that elimination diets are effective at improving symptoms of EE (9Trusted Source, 10).
In a 2005 study of 146 patients with EE, more than 75% of all participants experienced significantly fewer symptoms and less inflammation through an elimination diet (11Trusted Source).
3. It may reduce symptoms of ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder that affects 3–5% of all children and adults.
Studies have shown elimination diets may reduce symptoms of ADHD (12, 13Trusted Source).
One analysis looked at 20 studies that restricted specific foods to improve ADHD symptoms. Researchers found that elimination diets helped reduce ADHD symptoms among children who were sensitive to foods (13Trusted Source).
However, children should not follow an elimination diet unless supervised by a medical professional.
Elimination diets restrict many essential nutrients essential for growing children. Long-term restriction could stunt their growth.
4. It may improve skin conditions like eczema
Eczema is a group of skin conditions that appear as discolored, itchy, cracked, and inflamed skin.
There are many causes of eczema, but many people find that some foods worsen their symptoms.
Several studies have found that elimination diets may reduce symptoms of eczema (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).
5. It may reduce chronic migraines
Roughly 39 million people in the United States alone experience chronic migraine episodes (16).
The causes of migraine attacks are unclear, but emerging evidence points to the involvement of inflammation as a cause (17Trusted Source).
An elimination diet removes foods that cause inflammation and has been shown to reduce chronic migraine episodes (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
In one study, 50 patients with frequent migraine attacks followed an elimination diet for 2 months, which helped reduce the number of headache attacks during that time.
An elimination diet removes foods that cause inflammation and has been shown to reduce chronic migraines (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
Risks of an elimination diet
Although elimination diets help you discover foods that cause problems, they also come with risks.
For starters, elimination diets should be followed for only between 4 and 8 weeks.
Following an elimination diet for longer is not recommended because it could cause nutrient deficiencies due to eliminating some food groups.
Also, children and people with known or suspected allergies should do an elimination diet only under the supervision of a doctor (20Trusted Source).
Children are also more prone to severe reactions, like anaphylaxis, when reintroducing a food group. This is because their bodies can become extra sensitive to foods after avoiding them (21Trusted Source).
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The bottom line
Elimination diets can help determine which foods your body can’t tolerate well.
If you’re experiencing symptoms you think may be related to diet, an elimination diet could help you discover which foods are causing them.
However, elimination diets are not for everyone. Children and adults should not try an elimination diet unless supervised by a doctor or dietitian.
Also, people with known or suspected allergies should try an elimination diet only under the supervision of a doctor.
Finally, it’s important to note that elimination diets should be done only short term because long-term restrictions may cause nutritional deficiencies and unintended disordered eating.
