Which statement is true about food intolerance?

• A. It is not generally life threatening.
• B. It is always life threatening.
• C. It involves the immune system.
• D. It is exactly the same as a food allergy.

Answer: (A)

Food intolerance is a non-immune reaction to a food component, often due to an enzyme deficiency or a digestive/metabolic issue. Because it doesn’t involve the immune system, the reactions are usually limited to digestive symptoms and are not life-threatening. This is why that statement is true.

In contrast, true food allergies involve the immune system reacting to a food protein and can cause rapid, potentially life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis. That’s why the other choices don’t fit: intolerance isn’t always life-threatening, it doesn’t primarily involve the immune system, and it isn’t the same as a food allergy.