What term describes a personal response to chemicals in food that resembles a food allergy?

Food intolerance accurately describes a personal response to chemicals in food that resembles a food allergy. This condition involves a negative reaction to certain foods that does not involve the immune system, which differentiates it from a true food allergy. In cases of food intolerance, individuals may experience symptoms such as digestive distress, gas, or bloating after consuming specific foods, but these reactions are typically less severe and do not pose a direct threat to health like allergies can.

Food allergies, on the other hand, involve an immune system response that can trigger serious reactions, including anaphylaxis. Food sensitivity is often used interchangeably with food intolerance but may imply a broader range of reactions and is not as formally defined. Food reaction is a vague term and does not specify the nature or mechanism of the body's response to food. Therefore, food intolerance is the most accurate term when discussing personal responses to food chemicals that mimic allergy-like symptoms.