What makes a certain food an allergen?

Question

Follow up: Why are peanuts and gluten listed as allergens on food packages, but not carrot or chicken? What’s the difference? Is it based on a list some government body publishes?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Chicken and carrots aren’t listed as allergens because allergies to those are rather rare, while allergies to cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, shellfish, soy, gluten, and tree nuts are much more common.