Frequently Asked Questions

Egg Allergies

Can I feed eggs to my baby?

Health Canada has released new infant feeding guidelines suggesting iron-rich foods as first foods for your baby at six months, including the whole egg. Iron-rich foods are needed to meet nutrient and growth requirements at this age. Health Canada says that there is no longer a need to delay or avoid potentially allergic foods for the prevention of a food allergy. For more information visit Health Canada’s website.

Can a person allergic only to egg white still eat the yolk?

Eggs have two allergenic components with different properties – the yolk and the white. The egg white is the component which causes the most severe reactions. However, it makes little difference which part of the egg a child is allergic to. It is very difficult to separate the white from the yolk without having some parts of each combine. Thus, extremely small amounts can sometimes trigger severe reactions.

Can a person who is allergic to raw eggs eat cooked eggs?

Usually not. Egg white is only slightly modified by heat, making it allergenic either raw or cooked. Egg yolk is substantially altered by heat and it can be tolerated by some if it is well cooked. But remember, it is very difficult to separate the white from the yolk without having some parts of each combine. However, sometimes when the allergy is disappearing, a person can eat cooked eggs but still react to raw eggs.

Can a person allergic to eggs eat chicken?

In most cases, the answer is yes. Most often the antibodies against eggs identify chicken as non-egg and chicken can be eaten safely. In rare cases, the antibodies find a similarity between the protein structure of chicken and eggs and the child can react to both.