Tag: Food allergy testing

Viral food challenges, particularly on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, have captured global interest and can promise fame or cash prizes. However, the reality behind these spectacles is a complex mix of potential benefits for businesses and serious, often hidden, risks for individuals.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), a medically supervised oral food challenge is considered the 'gold standard' for accurately diagnosing or ruling out a food allergy. This highly controlled procedure is just one of the distinct meanings behind the term food challenges, which can also refer to the popular and often dangerous competitive eating competitions seen in restaurants and on social media.

Oral food challenges are considered the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies but require strict medical supervision and specific dietary instructions. So, should you eat the day of a food challenge? The answer depends entirely on whether it's a medical test or a competitive eating event.

According to the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) organization, millions of people have food allergies, and accurate diagnosis is critical for management. When it comes to pinpointing an allergy, the oral food challenge is the most definitive test, but patients and parents must understand **what are the risks of food challenge?** and how medical professionals mitigate them.