🥚Egg allergy
Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in young children. Many children outgrow it, often by school age, but for some it lasts into adulthood. It is managed by avoiding egg and knowing how to recognise a serious reaction.
🔬What it means
In an egg allergy the immune system mistakes proteins in egg white and yolk for a threat. Raw or lightly cooked egg usually causes stronger reactions than egg that is well baked, because heat changes some of these proteins.
Many children with egg allergy can eat egg baked into cakes or biscuits, and this can be a step towards outgrowing it — but reintroduce egg only under an allergist's guidance. Eggs of other birds, such as duck or quail, usually cause reactions too.
✅What you can eat
Everything that does not contain egg: plain meat, fish, dairy, grains, fruit, vegetables, beans and nuts are naturally egg-free (if you have no other allergies). In baking, egg can be replaced with egg replacers, ground flaxseed or chia mixed with water, mashed banana or aquafaba (chickpea water).
🚫What to avoid
- 🥚Eggs in any form: boiled, fried, scrambled, omelettes, egg white, yolk, powdered egg.
- 🥫Sauces: mayonnaise, aioli, tartare sauce, hollandaise, béarnaise, Caesar dressing and some other salad dressings.
- 🍰Baking and desserts: cakes, muffins, pancakes, waffles, brioche, meringue, macarons, custard, mousse, soufflé, some ice creams and marshmallows.
- 🍝Pasta and noodles: fresh pasta, egg noodles, carbonara, egg fried rice.
- 🥐Hidden egg: egg glaze on bread and pastries, batter and breadcrumb coatings, meatballs, burgers and meatloaf bound with egg, clear soups clarified with egg white.
- 🏷️Labels: in the EU and UK egg must be highlighted in the ingredients. Albumin, ovalbumin, lysozyme (E1105) and words starting with “ovo” also mean egg.
- 🍽️In restaurants: tell the staff about the allergy every time; shared pans, griddles and utensils can carry traces.
⚠️What happens during a reaction
Symptoms usually start within minutes to two hours: hives, redness, itchy skin, swelling of the lips or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, a runny nose. In young children egg allergy is often linked with eczema.
A severe reaction — anaphylaxis — is less common but possible. It affects breathing or circulation: swelling of the tongue or throat, hoarse voice, wheezing, difficulty breathing, feeling faint, pale or clammy skin, collapse. It can develop fast and is life-threatening.
Tell the doctor or nurse about the allergy before vaccinations. Most vaccines, including MMR, are safe for children with egg allergy; they will advise on the few that need extra care.
🚑When to get help urgently
If there are any signs of anaphylaxis, use an adrenaline auto-injector if you have one and call emergency services immediately, even if symptoms improve. Lie down with legs raised (or sit up if it is hard to breathe) and do not stand up suddenly. After any reaction, see a doctor about an allergy plan.
📱How Me Nutrition helps
Every dish in the app and on this site shows the major allergens of a typical recipe, including eggs, and which ingredient contains them. Recipes differ and traces are not covered, so always check with whoever cooked the dish.
Dishes that contain it: 588
Sources
Written from the sources below; not reviewed by a doctor. Not medical advice. How we count →