BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Chocolate Chocolate Allergies

I just wrote about being allergic to chocolate -- I'm not, thank goodness, but my husband seems to be. It's severe enough that I can't even bake around him (hence making the brownies today, while he's out having fun with our son).

Probably people who can't eat chocolate won't be reading this (why torture yourself hanging out in this forum?), but I was just wondering if anyone had ever dealt with this kind of allergy, either in themselves or a loved one. Any tips?

I've been learning a lot about the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance, for instance; and that sometimes what you're allergic to isn't the chocolate, but an ingredient in it.

My daughter is but only in the way I am to strawberries. We can tolerate them in moderation. An overabundance causes us to break out in hives.

Hives, ouch. I'm sorry -- but at least it sounds as if you know how to make sure you avoid them, while still enjoying favorite foods.

You know, the more I read about food allergies, the more I wonder if I had them as a child. I used to have asthma, hives, eczema -- and from what I'm reading, those are often linked to childhood food allergies, especially dairy. I guess they didn't know much about that back then (I just turned forty), because I don't remember it being discussed even as a possibility. I was just the kid who was always sick.

I'm so glad that we're learning more about allergies now -- but it's a shame that this knowledge seems to be coming along largely because food allergies are becoming so widespread.

I'm sure your daughter already knows this, but high-quality chocolate (especially dark) seems to be a better bet for allergy sufferers.

"a better bet" -- sorry, meant "the best bet" (as in if she's going to eat chocolate, she should go for the good stuff!)

I have never heard of chocolate allergies. I am shocked reading these postings.

It's a new topic to me. It seems food allergy is going everywhere!