egg allergy

After milk, egg is the most common allergy in children. The good news is that about 80 per cent will outgrow it by the time they are 10. And while some children can have severe, life-threatening reactions to even the tiniest amount, most children will have only mild symptoms.

Egg is one of the most common foods contributing to eczema (atopic dermatitis) in infants. Some egg-allergic children can eat well-cooked egg (in cake, for example) without any ill effects but not raw or lightly cooked egg. Others are allergic even to egg which has been well cooked. Egg reactions can range from a flare in eczema, hives or swelling around the mouth to more widespread, gastrointestinal reactions with tummy pain and vomiting, or severe reactions (anaphylaxis).

Any parent who is worried that their child has egg allergy should seek their GP’s advice, and see an allergy specialist if necessary. Your GP or specialist will make a diagnosis based on history of previous reactions. The allergy can be confirmed by blood tests to measure the allergy antibody, and/or skin prick tests. People at risk of severe reactions are normally prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector, such as the EpiPen (adrenaline injector).

People with an egg allergy will need to avoid eggs from other poultry, eg duck, goose and quail. While both parts of the egg can cause allergic reactions, the egg white causes more reactions than the egg yolk. Most people with egg allergy can eat chicken meat safely but in rare cases people allergic to eggs are sensitive to chicken meat as well.

Vaccines and egg allergy

Chicken and egg products are used in the manufacture of some types of immunisations. The MMR vaccine is grown in egg fibroblast cultures. Children with egg allergy, even if the allergy is severe, are not at increased risk of an adverse reaction to this vaccine compared with other children. However, you may wish your child to have the vaccine at your doctor’s office rather than school.
On the other hand, the flu vaccine and the yellow fever vaccine are grown in chicken eggs and are not safe for individuals with egg allergy.

Egg substitutes

There are commercial egg substitutes available, or you can try some of the following: (each recipe will replace one egg)

• 1 tsp baking powder, 1 Tbsp liquid, 1 Tbsp vinegar
• 1 ½ Tbsp water, 1 ½ Tbsp oil, 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 pkt plain gelatine, 2 Tbsp warm water (do not mix until ready to use)
• 2 Tbsp water, ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 Tbsp linseed, ½ cup water – boil until it becomes a gel
• 2 Tbsp golden syrup, ½ tsp baking powder
• Beer - can be used instead of egg when making batter
• ½ large mashed banana – for cakes and muffins
• ½ cup apple sauce or pureed prunes
• 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 Tbsp water
• ½ cup soft tofu
• ½ tsp xanthan gum with ½ cup water – let stand; it thickens and can be whipped like egg white
• Milk, oil and lemon juice, or melted butter – to replace egg as an adhesive for crumbing

Food labels must be thoroughly scrutinised for products containing egg.

Egg labelling guide

(Note there may be other examples of foods containing egg not included in this list, so if in doubt check)

Avoid foods that contain egg or any of these ingredients:

• albumin
• Béarnaise
• egg (whole, dried, powdered, solids, white, yolk)
• egg from any type of poultry
• eggnog
• globulin
• Hollandaise
• livetin
• lysozyme
• mayonnaise
• meringue
• ovalbumin
• ovomucin
• ovomucoid
• ovovitellin
• ovum
• silici albuminate, vitellin.
• Egg based lecithin (E322) may be found in imported goods.

Some examples of foods where egg protein may be present:

• baked goods
• biscuits
• cakes
• custard
• doughnuts
• glaze on pastries/baked goods
• fish sticks
• ice cream
• chocolates and confectionery
• icing
• macaroon
• marshmallows
• marzipan
• meat loaf
• meat jelly
• noodles
• nougat
• pancakes
• pasta
• pastry
• pavlova
• pikelets
• pudding
• quiche
• salad dressing
• sauce (e.g. Bernaise, Hollandaise etc)
• slices
• surimi
• wines clarified with egg white

Non-food items

Non-food items, such hair products and cosmetics, may also contain egg.

Egg is not often used in medicines, but it is important to remind your doctor and pharmacist of your allergy every time you get a new prescription or over-the-counter medication. The anaesthetic drug Diprivan (Propofol) contains soya bean oil and purified egg phosphatide – if having an operation, ensure your anaesthetist is aware of your/your child’s egg allergy.

Be wary of egg cartons used at preschool or kindergarten for art, and avoid handling newly hatched chicks.

This information is based on information available at the time of going to press 
but may be subject to change. Remember too that all of us are different and 
individual cases require individual medical attention. Please be guided by your 
GP or specialist.

Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Dr Jan Sinclair & Pauline Brown RN 
of Starship Children’s Health for their assistance in writing this information.