A food challenge is a test that's used to find out if someone is allergic to a certain food or has outgrown an allergy. 

Your child did not have an allergic reaction to the food that was tested. If your child has no signs of an allergic reaction for the rest of the day, you can start giving the food that was tested the next day. You will need to continue to watch your child for signs of an allergic reaction for the next few weeks. 

• On the day of the test, don't give your child another serving of the tested food.
• If your child didn't have any signs of an allergic reaction on the day of the test, start giving them the tested food the next day. Ask your health care provider how often your child should eat the food.
• Watch your child over the next few weeks for any signs of an allergic reaction. Be sure you know how to recognize signs of a severe allergic reaction and what to do (see below). Continue to carry your child's epinephrine auto-injector with you until your health care provider says it's OK to stop.
• If your child has allergies to other foods that were not tested, continue to keep those foods out of their diet.
• Follow your health care provider's instructions about restarting any medicines that your child was taking before the test. 
• If your child seems stressed about eating the food that they had an allergic reaction to in the past, talk to your health care provider or a mental health specialist for ways to help your child adjust.
• Follow up as instructed by your health care provider.

• You have any questions about how often your child should eat the food.
• Your child has one of these signs of a mild allergic reaction:
  • Red bumps (hives) anywhere on the body 
  • Skin itching, redness, or swelling
  • Sneezing or a stuffy, runny nose
  • Itchy, watery eyes
  • Coughing

If your child has more than one of these mild signs, or a mild sign is getting worse, call 911 and give the epinephrine (see below).

Your child has any signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as:

• Swelling of the mouth or tongue
• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble speaking or hoarseness
• Throat tightness, wheezing, or trouble breathing
• Belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Dizziness or fainting
• A feeling like something bad is about to happen

Follow these steps:

1. Have someone call 911 while you give the epinephrine. If you're alone, give epinephrine first, then immediately call 911.
2. Lay your child down with their legs raised while you wait for the ambulance. Give epinephrine again if their symptoms don't go away, get worse, or go away and then come back. If your child stops breathing or doesn't have a pulse, start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Why are food challenge tests done? A food challenge test can help health care providers find out:

• If a child has an allergy when the results of other tests are unclear
• If a child has outgrown an allergy

How often does my child need to eat the food that was tested? It’s important for your child to eat the food regularly. Sometimes, if a child doesn’t eat a food that they were allergic to in the past, the food allergy can return. Talk to your health care provider about how often your child should be eating the food.