Man is allergic to 28 different foods, says life is 'increasingly difficult'

A man with 28 food allergies that apparently began with baby formula when he was an infant is speaking out about the issue and revealing how difficult it is not only to eat out - but to choose foods he can eat safely on an everyday basis.

He's discovered over the years, he said, that over two dozen foods trigger allergic reactions in his body - some of which can be life-threatening to him.

His most severe allergies, he reported, are to peanuts and legumes, such as peas and lentils.

"You're going out to eat and you're not just the one person who gets affected by that - everyone at the dinner party is affected by the decision of where it is we are going to eat, based on one person's food allergies," said De Sousa, 28, of Glasgow, Scotland.

He added that if others are eating out with him, "it is pretty much about" where "it is safe for me to eat," he told SWNS.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction to allergens.

"Signs and symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse; a skin rash; and nausea and vomiting. Common triggers include certain foods, some medications, insect venom and latex."

It also points out, "Anaphylaxis requires an injection of epinephrine and a follow-up trip to an emergency room. If you don't have epinephrine, you need to go to an emergency room immediately. If anaphylaxis isn't treated right away, it can be fatal."

While he was in his teens, De Sousa said he had to learn to cook for himself - and that his parents had to change up the entire household due to his allergies.

There are not "a lot of ingredients" in that type of food, he said, that pose a hazard to him. 

To help navigate his issue, he's developed a web tool to help restaurants display allergens more easily, he said.

He said he's spoken with many other people with food allergies - and they all say they have had the same struggles he's dealt with his whole life.