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Egg avoidance
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Egg avoidance
Egg allergy is most common in babies and young children under the age of 1. Around half of all children will outgrow their egg allergy by the time they are 3 years old and very few children still have an egg allergy after 6 years old. Sometimes egg allergy can carry on into adult life.
The information below provides advice on how to follow a diet that is free from eggs and products containing eggs.
Foods to avoid include:
- all eggs including hens’ and the eggs of other birds including duck and quail
- foods containing eggs such as meringue and soufflé
- manufactured foods containing eggs such as mayonnaise
Checking food labels
European Union (EU) legislation requires manufacturers to label all pre-packaged foods containing egg or egg derivatives. Always check food labels. You should avoid any of the following ingredients:
- egg
- fresh egg
- whole egg
- dried egg
- frozen egg
- egg albumen or albumen
- egg powder
- egg protein
- egg white
- egg yolk
- egg lecithin (E322): This may be present in manufactured foods and often comes from soya or rapeseed rather than egg. If the source is not specified you should avoid it.
Outside of the EU labelling may not be so clear. Other names to look out for abroad include:
- Globulin
- Livetin
- Ovalbumen
- Ovoglobulin
- Ovomucin
- Ovovitellin
- Pasteurised egg
- Vitellin
Foods to choose and avoid
Foods to choose: these are usually free from eggs but you should still check the label every time.
Foods to check or avoid: these often contain eggs but it is advisable to check the label as egg-free varieties may be available.
Bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and other starchy foods
Foods to choose
Cereals
- Flour, cornflour, arrowroot
- Rice, semolina, sago, tapioca, custard powder
- Barley, oats, bran, wheat germ, couscous
- Breakfast cereal such as Ready Brek, Weetabix, Rice Krispies, porridge
- Popcorn
Bread
- Wholemeal, white, granary
- Wraps, bagels, pitta bread, ciabatta, chappati, poppadoms
- Plain pizza bases
Pasta
- Plain dried pasta that does not contain egg
- Fresh pasta that does not contain egg
- Plain wheat noodles
- Tinned spaghetti in tomato sauce
Rice
- All dried plain rice
- Boil in the bag rice
- Plain, ready-cooked rice
- Rice noodles
Potatoes
- Boiled, mashed, baked, roast, chips, and potato wedges
- Plain crisps
Foods to check or avoid
Cereals
- Milk puddings containing egg such as semolina and rice pudding
- Gnocchi
- Yorkshire pudding
Bread
- Brioche, pancakes, crepes, naan bread
- French toast and eggy bread
- Bread and bakery items glazed with egg
Pasta
- Fresh and dried pasta containing egg
- Fresh and dried filled pasta
- Pasta dishes containing egg or made with pasta containing egg such as lasagne and spaghetti carbonara
- Dried pasta in sauces
- Dried, instant noodles
- Egg noodles
Rice
- Dried savoury rice
- Egg-fried rice
Potatoes
- Potato products including potato croquettes, hash browns, and waffles
- Potato salad in mayonnaise or salad dressing
- Potato based items containing eggs such as Duchesse potatoes
Meat, fish, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
Foods to choose
Meat
- Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, liver, and kidney
- Corned beef
Fish
- Fresh or tinned fish
- Breaded fish fingers
Beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
- All dried and tinned pulses, including lentils, kidney beans, butter beans, and baked beans
- Dahl, hummus
- Tofu
Foods to check or avoid
Meat
- Meat coated in egg and breadcrumbs such as chicken kievs and chicken nuggets
- Meat coated in a batter made with eggs
- Manufactured meat dishes containing egg as a binder such as meatloaf, burgers, and sausages
- Meat dishes containing eggs such as moussaka
- Meat dished glazed with egg including sausage rolls
Fish
- Fish coated in egg and breadcrumbs
- Fish coated in a batter made with egg
- Fish dishes containing egg including kedgeree and fish pie
Beans, pulses and meat alternatives
- Quorn and Quorn based products
Egg
- All types of egg
- All cooked eggs such as boiled, omelette, poached, and scrambled
- Scotch egg
- Quiche
- Mayonnaise and sandwich fillings with mayonnaise including tuna, prawn or egg
Milk and dairy products
Foods to choose
Milk
- Fresh, evaporated, condensed, sterilized, long-life UHT milk, dried milk powder
- Milkshakes and milk-based smoothies
- Cream and synthetic cream toppings
Cheese
- Cheese, cheese spread, cheese slices, cheese strings, cream cheese, cottage cheese, vegetarian cheese
- Quark
- Pizza with cheese toppings
Yoghurts
- Natural and fruit yoghurts, Greek yoghurt, crème Fraiche, fromage frais
- Yoghurt drinks, yoghurt-based smoothies
Foods to check or avoid
- Custard and custard-based desserts made with eggs such as crème caramel
- Cheese dishes containing eggs e.g. deep-fried Brie
Fruit and vegetables
Foods to choose
- All fresh, tinned, frozen and dried fruit
- Fruit juices
- Fruit-based smoothies
- Fruit bars
- All fresh, tinned and frozen vegetables
Foods to check or avoid
- Fruit-based dishes made with egg including fruit mousse and fruit fools
- Frosted fruit dipped in egg white
- Fruit in batter such as banana fritters
- Coleslaw, vegetable salads in mayonnaise or salad cream
- Vegetables in batter such as onion rings and mushrooms
Foods and drinks high in fat or sugar
Foods to choose
Biscuits and cakes
- Biscuits, cakes and pastry items that are known to be free from egg and egg products
- Home-baking using suitable ingredients and egg replacers
Desserts
- Puddings made without egg such as crumbles, egg-free milk puddings, egg-free custard
- Instant ‘add water only’ custard mix
- Plain jellies, fruit-based lollies
- Egg-free ice cream and cones
Sugar, jams and sweet spreads
- Sugar, jam, marmalade, honey, syrup, peanut butter
- Artificial sweeteners
Sweets
- Boiled sweets, chocolate that is known to be egg-free, fruit gums, pastilles, jelly beans, lollies
Fats
- Margarine, butter
- vegetable oils, cooking fats
- low-fat spreads
Foods to check or avoid
Biscuits and cakes
- Biscuits, cakes and pastry containing egg and egg products
- Bakery items containing egg including scones, fruit loaves, pancakes, doughnuts
- Baked goods glazed with egg such as fruit pies
Desserts
- Puddings made with egg or egg products including crème caramel, soufflé, sponges, cheesecakes, trifle
- Ice-cream and ice-cream cones containing egg
- Fruit fools and mousses
- Custards and milk puddings containing eggs
- Meringues
Sugar, jams and sweet spreads
- Royal icing, frosting, marzipan, fruit curd
Sweets
- Filled ‘loose’ sweet mixtures, chocolate-covered bars, fudge, toffee, marshmallow
- Chocolate and other types of sweets such as Mars bar, Snickers, and Chewitts
Miscellaneous
Foods to choose
Drinks
- Tea, coffee, herbal tea, cocoa, drinking chocolate
- Diluting juices, flavoured waters, fizzy drinks
Sauces and flavourings
- Tomato-based pasta sauces, sweet and sour sauces
- Mustard, tomato ketchup, brown sauce
- Coconut milk
- Salsa
- Salt, pepper, herbs, spices, vinegar, yeast, yeast extract, stock cubes, gravy granules
- Food essences and colourings
- Fruit-based pouring sauces
Processed foods
- Tinned, packet or pre-prepared foods and meals that are known to be egg-free
Foods to check or avoid
Drinks
- Malted milk drinks such as Ovaltine
- Egg nog or egg flip
Sauces and flavourings
- Soups with egg such as consommé
- Sauces made with egg such as supreme, fricassee, hollandaise
- Dressings containing egg such as mayonnaise, tartare sauce, horseradish sauce, salad cream, and salad dressings
Processed foods
- Tinned, packaged or pre-packaged foods and meals that are known to contain egg or of unknown content
Further information on products free from eggs can be obtained directly from many supermarkets and food manufacturers.
Meal Ideas
Breakfast
- Fruit juice or milk
- Cereal such as Weetabix, Shreddies, and Cheerios with milk and fruit
- Toast with margarine and jam
Light meals
- Sandwiches filled with cheese and pickle or ham and tomato or tuna and cucumber
- Pitta bread with hummus and raw vegetables
- Homemade soup and a roll
- Baked potato with tuna salad or baked beans
Snacks
- Fresh or dried fruit
- Yoghurt or fromage frais
- Milk or smoothies
- Cheese cubes with crackers or chappati
- Toast, breadsticks with cheese or hummus
- Small sandwiches
- Home baking using an egg replacer
- Egg-free biscuits including McVitie’s digestives, Tesco ginger nuts
- Plain crisps
- Plain popcorn
Main Meals
- Vegetable curry with boiled rice
- Pasta with a tomato sauce and vegetables made with egg-free pasta
- Chilli con Carne, boiled rice and salad
- Roast chicken and potatoes with gravy and mixed vegetables
- Stir-fried vegetables with rice noodles
- Mince, mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Breaded fish (egg-free) such as Birds Eye breaded fish fillets, Young’s fish fingers with potato wedges and peas
- Homemade meatballs (using egg replacer to bind) in a tomato-based sauce with spaghetti
Desserts
- Fruit crumble with egg-free custard such as Sainsbury’s Basics instant custard, Bird’s custard powder
- Yoghurt with fruit
- Ice cream and jelly
Egg replacers
Loprofin Low Protein Egg Replacer
- Manufactured by SHS International Limited
- Pack contains 2 250g sachets which replace around 100 eggs
Loprofin Low Protein Egg White Replacer
- Manufactured by SHS International Limited
- Produced in a 100g tub that replaces around 100 egg whites
Ener G Egg Replacer
- Manufactured by General Dietary Limited
- Pack contains a 454g packet that replaces around 100 eggs
PK Foods Egg Replacer
- Manufactured by PK Foods
- Pack contains a 350g packet that replaces around 100 eggs
Orgran Gluten Free Natural Egg Replacer
- Manufactured by Orgran
- Pack contains a 200g packet that replaces around 66 eggs
These are available from some supermarkets, health food shops and pharmacies or may be ordered online.
Egg allergy and vaccines
All children with an egg allergy should receive the MMR vaccine as a routine procedure in primary care (GP surgery).
This also includes children who have had anaphylaxis following ingestion of eggs or egg-containing food.
Some children with an egg allergy may be at increased risk of reaction to some influenza vaccines, please discuss with the allergy nurse or doctor. Children who have had a confirmed anaphylaxis to egg should not have the yellow fever vaccine. Children who have had confirmed anaphylaxis to any vaccines should be assessed by an allergist.
Eating out
If your child has a food allergy, there is no reason why you should not enjoy eating out. If your child needs emergency medication, for example antihistamines and adrenaline auto-injector. They should not eat out unless they have their medication with them.
Order simple dishes such as grilled meats, steamed vegetables and potatoes. Fresh fruit is a good option for dessert. Steer away from dishes where ingredients are easily hidden.
Always check with the staff about the ingredients in the dish you want to order. If you are not sure do not order the food.
Contact us
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact:
Allergy dietitians on 0114 271 7212
Allergy nurses on 0114 226 7872.
Further resources
Anaphylaxis Campaign has fact sheets about anaphylaxis and common food allergies. It also has an extensive database of information about all types of food allergies and advice. They have regular alerts if foods have been flagged as unsuitable for certain allergy sufferers and it has not been mentioned on the packaging.
Diet Card offers discrete, durable and highly professional cards to tell your needs to waiters and chefs. You can carry these in your pocket for wherever and whenever you eat. Use a dietary alert card in English or 17 other languages to order meals in the UK or abroad.
Is something missing from this resource that you think should be included? Please let us know
Disclaimer
Please note: this is a generic information sheet relating to care at Sheffield Children’s NHS FT. These details may not reflect treatment at other hospitals. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professionals’ instructions. If this resource relates to medicines, please read it alongside the medicine manufacturer’s patient information leaflet. If this information has been translated into another language from English, efforts have been made to maintain accuracy, but there may still be some translation errors. If you are unsure about any of the guidance in this resource or have specific questions about how it relates to your child, always ask your healthcare professional for further advice.
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH
United Kingdom
Switchboard: 0114 271 7000
Interesting Facts
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