According to the NHS Foundation Trust, 1–10% of adults and children in the UK have food allergies and/or intolerances. Intolerances tend to mean a person’s body is unable to digest a certain food or ingredient, usually leading to some discomfort.
These intolerances are different from allergies, which tend to cause an immune response and can be life threatening.
When it comes to allergies, the Food Standards Agency estimates around 6% of the UK population live with a food allergy and more than 30% have adverse reactions to food.
What Are The Most Common Food Intolerances In The UK?
According to the NHS, there are a number of common food intolerances in the UK. The most common one is lactose intolerance, which means a person’s body is unable to break down lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy produsts.
Lactose intolerant people are commonly unable to eat any form of dairy, including milks, cheeses and yoghurts.
Other common intolerances include gluten – commonly found in wheat, barley and rye, histamines, found in wine and cheese and salicylates, found in fresh produce.
Generally whilst intolerances can’t be healed, they can be managed. This is usually through careful dietary planning and avoiding any ingredients that cause a reaction.
As tech becomes more central to our lives, it’s no surprise that startups are popping up to help people manage their intolerances. Let’s take a look at some of them…
Make It Mine: Recipe Editor
Make It Mine is an app that helps managing intolerances just that little bit easier. Users can upload recipes and get recommended alternatives, allowing them to enjoy any meal.
Not only does it make meal planning easier, it also helps people make more informed choices about what to eat, giving them inspiration and suitable alternatives for them.
Food Filter: Find Safe Meals Anywhere
Food Filter is an app that allows users to scan barcodes to get personalised recommendations around whether to consumer or avoid a certain product.
The barcode system means users no longer need to read long ingredient lists, allowing them to cut down on shopping time and avoid foods more accurately.
More from Startups
Eat Unbound: Restaurant Meal Selector
Food intolerances can make eating out tricky, so Eat Unbound helps by providing users with menu items that they can safely eat.
The site lets users search by restaurant and location, generating personalised menu recommendations based on intolerances.
Food is Good: Food Shopping With Ease
Food is Good helps people with intolerances do their weekly grocery shop. After entering specific intolerances, users get recommended foods like snacks and sauces that are safe for them to eat.
By creating a database of over 50 stores, Fig is helping more people shop with peace of mind.
Zoe: Intolerance Detector
Whilst many people know about their intolerances, others might be having side effects to certain foods without realising.
Zoe boasts an at-home test that gives people personalised data around their food and digestion. This allows users to identify any intolerances and make better choices about what they eat.
Allergy Amulet: Food Tester
With a growing number of cases being reported around hidden ingredients in store-bought food, it’s no surprise tech like the allergy amulet exists.
The amulet takes a small sample of food and is able to detect whether allergenic ingredients are present.
This helps take the guess work out of eating out or shopping, making for a safer experience.
Quickgredients: Instant Ingredient Analysis
Quickgredients is an app that helps with intolerances and eating out by giving users bespoke recommendations about menu items that suit their diet.
By choosing a specific diet and then removing any allergens, the app is able to generate recommended menu dishes, with the lowest risk of contamination.
