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Uncovering the Truth About Food Allergies - Diagnosis Journey (Part 3) with Dr. Farrah Khan and Dr. Tom Chaco
January 21, 2026
13 Minutes
Welcome to Part 3 of Episode 25 on The Immune Edit Podcast, hosted by Dr. Doug Jones. Joined by allergists Dr. Farrah Khan and Dr. Tom Chaco, this final segment focuses on the emotional challenges faced by food allergy families. Explore how misinformation amplifies anxiety, the impact of daily decisions, and strategies for empowerment through education, resources, and mindset shifts. Essential for parents seeking support and confidence in managing allergies.
Introduction to the Emotional Load of Food Allergies
Dr. Doug Jones: Welcome back to part three of three for our food allergy series. I'm Doug Jones with my colleagues Farrah Khan and Thomas Chaco.
Dr. Farrah Khan: If you endured the first two sessions, you're in trouble. You called him Thomas—he's in trouble.
Dr. Tom Chaco: I'm Tom. Thomas when in trouble.
Dr. Doug Jones: I'm carrying quite an emotional load because of the relentless nature of my colleagues.
What Contributes to the Emotional Load for Food Allergy Families?
Dr. Doug Jones: What contributes to the emotional load of food allergy families? What role does misinformation play?
Dr. Farrah Khan: Even without the internet and misinformation, you're making 52,000 decisions in a given hour. Think about how much of our lives revolve around: what's everyone having for breakfast? What am I packing for lunch? Is this snack safe? Grocery shopping, going out to eat, a play date. That mental load adds layers, especially navigating big allergens like egg, milk, or wheat—they're in almost everything.
It's incredibly challenging. Huge kudos to parents and patients finding healthier alternatives. Misinformation takes it to another level—people comparing numbers or saying, "My kid has milk allergy but can drink goat milk." Then, "Can I do that?" Without understanding.
Bad information exists online, adding layers.
Dr. Tom Chaco: Social media, online stories—sometimes agendas make people more fearful. "Peanuts airborne," "Can't fly," "Southwest serving cashews—burn it down." I like Southwest and cashews.
Dr. Doug Jones: In every example, there's people who experienced the outlier—they must be acknowledged. Decide what's correct: rare vs. common. Families prepare for worst-case, driving it. Combine with extra misinformation voices.
Dr. Farrah Khan: Power in sharing stories for awareness, safe travel—different precautions. I have food allergy but never board early, wipe trays—risk of airborne almost zero for most. Not anaphylaxis from bag of peanuts/cashews/pine nuts.
Going down rabbit hole for health info—limited allergist time, info feels limited, not filling day-to-day questions like "may contain." Not same as explaining. People sharing stories great, but hard for consumers: "Does this apply to me/my kid?"
Threshold for reaction different—even same person varies by day: illness, stress, exercise, period. Colon counts.
Dr. Doug Jones: Unknowns drive fear. Food allergy—so many unknowns, powerless situations can't control. COVID: world reacted to microscopic harmful unknown—isolated, shut down. Lived food allergy families' daily life. Measures: wiping, distance, avoiding parties/movies/games. Taste of that—wanted normalcy. Food allergy families want that too.
Dr. Tom Chaco: We see super allergic kids where allergies debilitating. Not disability, but can be. Affecting every day—you can't do what you want. Good thing now vs. 10 years ago: options, treatments. Patients come in—I upbeat because believe it. "I can get you good if bothering—feels like disability, got you."
Dr. Farrah Khan: Love that attitude—confidence, safety we give. Frame conversation: if not super sensitive to traces, get confident going out, flying. Use resources: psychologists, food therapists. Met families not putting kids in school—terrified cafeteria. Get to enroll eventually—huge.
Dr. Tom Chaco: Patient homeschooled—mom of 5-6, milk allergic. "Come—fix it. Got you."
Dr. Doug Jones: We've done this decades—see all time. Feel bad restricted. Sometimes identity—fix with natural foods, get good.
Dr. Farrah Khan: Problem from colleagues giving fear—older practicing while: "Peanut allergic—avoid all tree nuts," "Avoid Twinkies." Poor kid. "Avoid restaurants." Covering themselves—poor mom thinking 4 years.
Retrain: you good. Parents/specialists/primary care appreciate our voices—acknowledge problem from colleagues. Certain generation retire—making harder.
Dr. Tom Chaco: Practicing/trained 20-30 years—hard change habits. That's how—LEAP 10 years ago. Don't read journals, go conferences. Not insulting—just "this how we do."
Dr. Doug Jones: Roll back to emotional load. Guilty, but part. How find good provider? If not keeping times—second opinion, go elsewhere. Resources now—more people doing OIT. Food Allergy Support Team grown—from handful to over 200 attendance yearly. Outreach great.
Network food allergy counselors help anxiety/emotional—valuable, not decade ago. Younger parents/moms on Instagram—credible sources.
Dr. Tom Chaco: Credible Instagram/social media follow. Give shoutouts.
Dr. Farrah Khan: Send to Doug—link show notes.
Final Tips for Handling the Emotional Load of Food Allergies
Dr. Doug Jones: Last tips/advice handling emotional load—one off each.
Dr. Farrah Khan: You're not alone. Talk allergist if anxious—enroll school/fly/travel. Hear—every family different. Some: diagnosis, live life, carry EpiPen. Others: won't leave house. Spectrum. Please talk—as important as diagnosis.
Dr. Tom Chaco: Food allergy world different 10+ years ago. Message: got this, options. Don't restrict. See someone talk options—natural. Don't be restricted life—good treatments natural help if need.
Dr. Doug Jones: Fear/misinformation heartbeat anxiety. Replace with confidence—"we got this." Appropriate education, bust myths—empowering. Beat different drummer—confidence/empowerment seek sources, get help, confidence doing.
Dr. Tom Chaco: "We"—not you, we you/your allergist. Team—let us lead. We'll get someone. As family/we doctor/allergy team—got you. Don't worry—got you.
Dr. Doug Jones: Love that. Thanks wonderful session—awesome meet. Do again—still some fight Farrah.
Thanks tuning in. See next time The Immune Edit. Show separate clinical practice Global Allergy Immune Network. Represents opinions/guests'. Neither myself/show endorses views/statements guests. Educational purposes—not substitute professional care doctor/qualified medical professional.
Provided understanding not constitute medical/other professional advice/services. Looking help journey—seek qualified medical practitioner. Important someone corner trained/licensed healthcare practitioner help make changes, especially health.
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