Introduction

Afood intolerance is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them .

Itcausessymptoms, such as bloating and stomach pain,which usually come on a few hours after consuming the food.

The number of people who believe they have a food intolerance has risen dramatically over recent years, but it'shard to know how many people are truly affected. Many people assumethey have afood intolerance when the true cause of their symptoms is something else .

This page covers:

What are the symptoms of a food intolerance?

Is there afood intolerance test?

Could my symptoms be something else?

Is it a food intolerance or food allergy?

What causes a food intolerance?

How do I manage it?

When do I need to see a specialist?

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 19 Sep 2016