Egg Substitutes May Contain Eggs
Low-cholesterol liquid egg substitutes sold in grocery store dairy coolers are made from eggs. The following commercial products all contain eggs and are not safe for people with egg allergies:
Egg Beaters Bay Valley Foods Second Nature Egg Substitute Generic liquid egg substitutes sold in cartons Powdered egg white products
Egg Replacer Products Are Safe Alternatives
However, there are special egg replacer products that do not contain eggs. They are often marketed as vegan egg substitutes and are usually sold in a powdered form. They are useful for baking, but cannot be used to substitute for eggs in foods like quiche.
Commercial Egg Replacers That Are Egg-Free
Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer Ener-G Egg Replacer PaneRiso Foods Egg Replacer
Always check the ingredients on the package label before buying a product sold as an egg substitute or replacer to make sure that the product is completely egg-free. Many of these products contain soy, dairy, or other big eight food allergens.
Vegan means that it contains no animal products, which includes eggs and dairy ingredients. It is different from vegetarian, which might contain these as they are not meat, although they are animal products.
Hidden Eggs
In addition to avoiding the obvious (such as omelets, quiches, custards, etc.) those allergic to eggs, must be informed about hidden eggs in other food products like bread, pastries, crackers, cereals, noodles and others. Here is another case where close scrutiny of package labeling is imperative.
The federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires that all packaged food products sold in the U.S. that contain egg as an ingredient must list the word “Egg” on the label.
Other ingredients that indicate eggs are in the product include albumin, albumin, globulin, lysozyme, lecithin, livetin, vitellin, and any ingredients starting with “ova” or “ovo.”
Egg-Free Recipes
Not all recipes require eggs or egg replacements to taste good. Research and find recipes to make egg-free cakes.
Egg Allergy Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
Skin reactions such as rash, hives or eczema. Allergic conjunctivitis (itchy, red, watery eyes). Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Airway symptoms including wheezing, coughing, or a runny nose. Swelling, also known as angioedema, of the lips, tongue, or face. Severe reactions, called anaphylaxis, may occur, causing multiple organ systems to be involved. Anaphylaxis is an emergency and requires immediate medical treatment.
To prevent an allergic reaction to egg, all individuals with egg allergy should avoid all eggs and products made with eggs.
