Ventura County Star reports on the top food allergy suspects:

• Wheat, Gluten: Watch out for some brands of hot dogs and ice cream; imitation crab meat; Asian dishes that contain wheat flour shaped to look like beef, pork and shrimp. Note: Many country-style wreaths are decorated with wheat products.


• Soy: Watch out for baked goods, canned tuna, cereals, crackers, infant formulas, sauces and soups. Note: Ask your doctor whether to avoid soy oil.


• Fish, Shellfish: Watch out for Caesar salad dressings, steak sauce and Worcestershire sauce, which often contain anchovies; surimi, an imitation crab meat; caponata, a traditional sweet-and-sour Sicilian relish that contains anchovies. Note: A fish allergy does not mean you're allergic to iodine.


• Tree Nuts: Barbecue sauce; cereals; crackers; ice cream; manufactured nuts such as mandelonas; mortadellas, a kind of sausage that may contain pistachios. Note: Items such as Hacky Sacks and beanbags are sometimes filled with crushed nutshells.


• Peanuts: Watch out for Mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring); arachis oil (same as peanut oil); African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine; and sunflower seeds (some are produced on equipment shared with peanuts). Note: Nut butters are not always a good substitute for peanut butter.


• Eggs: Watch out for whipped toppings on coffee and specialty drinks; egg substitutes (some contain egg whites); and commercially processed pastas. Note: Flu vaccines may contain a small amount of egg protein. Check with your doctor first.


• Milk: Watch out for casein, a milk protein derivative found in many "nondairy" products, and butter used to flavor foods. Note: Goat's milk is not a substitute for cow's milk.

Remember: The only way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid the allergenic food. If you have a food allergy, be extra careful when eating out in restaurants, and use Food Allergy Restaurant Cards for better communication with your server and the kitchen.