At-home food intolerance tests are a scam. They're all junk, and should be banned. The author, who conducted a series of at-home food and allergy tests, found that the results were unreliable and often misleading. The author's kitchen table was littered with test tubes, envelopes, and lancets, and they had to draw their own blood for a hormone test, which made them feel faint. The author then compared the results of three food intolerance tests, including a hair test, with a top-of-the-range allergy blood test from an allergy clinic. The food intolerance tests came back with a list of foods the author shouldn't eat, including eggs and dairy, even though they eat these foods regularly. The hair test results were equally bizarre, with the author being told to avoid a long list of foods and environmental allergens, including apples, almonds, and bees. The author concludes that IgG tests and other general intolerance tests have no scientific basis and are not the same as IgE allergy tests used by the NHS. The author also criticizes the nutritional therapy industry, which is unregulated and often promotes these unreliable tests. The author warns that cutting foods out of diets when they don't need to can have life-changing consequences, particularly in children with eczema. The author calls for stricter regulation of the industry and more accurate testing methods.
