Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

Which of the following describes food intolerance?

1. An immune-mediated reaction

2. A digestive issue leading to discomfort

3. A rare allergic reaction

4. A psychological aversion to certain foods

The correct answer is: A digestive issue leading to discomfort

Food intolerance refers to a situation where the body has difficulty digesting a particular food, which can lead to various symptoms such as bloating, gas, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Unlike food allergies, which involve the immune system reacting to food proteins (as indicated in the first choice), food intolerance is primarily a digestive issue that can occur due to a lack of specific enzymes required to properly digest certain foods. This type of intolerance does not involve an immune response or the severe reactions often associated with allergies. Instead, it tends to result in discomfort that may occur after consumption of the problematic food, thus making the description of it as a digestive issue leading to discomfort accurate. While psychological aversions towards food do exist, they are not classified as food intolerances, as they pertain more to mental or emotional responses rather than physical digestive reactions. Similarly, rare allergic reactions do not accurately define food intolerance either, since those involve an immune system response, which is distinct from the digestive issues caused by intolerances.