Every year, more than 15 million Americans face food allergies – and when dealing with food allergies, a scratchy throat or an itchy rash could become deadly if left untreated. Remember: an allergen is not the same as an allergy. An allergen causes and allergic reaction; an allergy is the body’s negative response to the allergen. Even though most major allergens are labeled, educating yourself on food allergy science now can prevent attacks later on.