Which statement distinguishes food allergy from food intolerance?

• A. Allergies are non-immune adverse reactions; intolerances are immune.
• B. Allergies are caused by intolerances; the opposite.
• C. Allergies involve immune responses and can cause anaphylaxis; intolerances are non-immune adverse reactions.
• D. Both are immune-mediated; only severity differs.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is the role of the immune system and the potential for severe reactions. Food allergy is an immune-mediated process, most often IgE-driven, that can trigger rapid and potentially life-threatening symptoms such as anaphylaxis. Food intolerance is a non-immune adverse reaction, usually due to factors like enzyme deficiencies or metabolic problems, that causes symptoms such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea but does not involve the immune system in the same way and does not typically lead to anaphylaxis. So the statement that best distinguishes them is that allergies involve immune responses and can cause anaphylaxis, while intolerances are non-immune adverse reactions. The other ideas either misstate the immune involvement or claim both are immune-mediated, which doesn’t fit how intolerances are defined.