McKinney's Leading
Food Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy Center

Have you or your child been dealing with a food allergy? Our board-certified food allergist at Safe2Bite | Texas Food Allergy Center is pleased to offer expert food allergy testing and diagnosis and advanced treatment options to empower you to live your life safely and confidently once again.

Dr. Nana Mireku, M.D. has more than 15 years of experience providing specialized food allergy care. Supporting families with evidence-based treatment plans, our McKinney food allergy treatment center is built on the five core values of confidence over fear, simplicity, partnership, progress and honesty.

Located on Coit Road and Hwy 380 at the border of McKinney and Prosper. We invite you to learn how families in North Texas find relief from food allergies with Safe2Bite's trusted care.

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Visit Our Food Allergy Treatment
Center in McKinney

McKinney/Prosper Clinic
1400 N. Coit Road
Suite #1302
McKinney, TX 75071

(469) 916-5504

Mon-Fri: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 8 AM – 12 PM

What Food Allergies Do We Treat?

At Safe2Bite, we treat a wide range of food allergies that affect both children and adults. These may include allergy to peanuts, eggs, seeds, tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds and cashews), shellfish and more. We offer personalized treatment protocols tailored to your or your child's unique needs to provide real, lasting results.

Peanut Allergy

A peanut allergy can be one of the first food allergies identified in young children and often appears before age 2. As peanuts are used widely in various sauces and certain recipes, cross-contact is a real concern for families managing this allergy.

  • Hidden sources of peanuts include candy, baked goods and sauces like satay.
  • Can be present in trace amounts from shared equipment used in food production.

Milk Allergy

Proteins in milk trigger milk allergy symptoms, with young children most likely to be affected. While many children outgrow their milk allergy by ages 3–5, it can affect a child into their teenage years.

  • Milk is commonly found in butter, cheese, yogurt and many baked goods.
  • Less obvious products that could contain milk include deli meats and canned tuna.

Egg Allergy

Egg allergy can involve the proteins in the egg white, the yolk or both, although the proteins most commonly responsible for reactions are found in the white. An allergist can help determine the egg-containing products that are safe to eat, and which to avoid.

  • Eggs are found in products like mayonnaise, baked goods, and some vaccines.
  • Fully-cooked eggs are sometimes tolerated better than raw or undercooked eggs.

Tree Nut Allergy

Tree nut allergies can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis in some patients. The most common tree nuts that cause allergic reactions are almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios and Brazil nuts.

  • Hidden tree nut sources include pesto, baked goods and some cereals.
  • Tree nuts are often processed in facilities that also handle peanuts.

Shellfish Allergy

A shellfish allergy can develop even after years of eating this food without issue. In some cases, shellfish allergy symptoms will become more severe after repeated exposure to the allergen.

  • Common crustaceans include shrimp, crab, lobster and crawfish.
  • Common mollusks are clams, mussels, oysters, squid and octopus.

Seed Allergy

Seed allergies are sometimes mistaken for tree nut allergies, though the two come from different plant families. Awareness of seed allergy has grown in recent years, as more patients have become aware of the risk of sesame allergy.

  • Sesame seeds are found in hamburger buns, tahini, hummus and crackers.
  • Flaxseed is found in multigrain breads, granola bars, egg substitutes and smoothies.
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What Are Food Allergies?

Food allergies are adverse responses that occur when a child's or an adult's immune system mistakenly identifies proteins in a specific food as harmful. This results in a reaction that can range from mild to severe and can be life-threatening in some cases. While food allergies typically affect infants and children, they can develop at any age. In fact, some people develop allergies without warning to foods they've eaten for years.

So why do some people react to foods like peanuts, eggs and shellfish? It comes down to how the immune system processes certain proteins. In some people the immune system identifies a harmless protein as a threat and produces antibodies to fight it. Then the next time that food is eaten, those antibodies trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals. This could result in a range of skin, digestive and respiratory symptoms, depending on the person and the severity of the reaction.

Black family, girl and consulting doctor in hospital, healthcare and medical room with mother, father and kids. Smile, happy and trust with pediatrician employee, worker and children medicine support.

How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed?

The first step to lasting relief is a telehealth consultation with our board-certified allergist, who will evaluate your symptoms and ask you about your medical history. Next, you'll come into our McKinney practice for diagnostic testing, which may include oral food challenges, blood tests, skin prick tests and/or basophil activation tests (BAT). Our goal is to confirm or rule out specific food allergies. We can also determine the severity of a food allergy.

Skin Prick Testing

Skin prick testing is often the first test used to diagnose a food allergy. It’s quick, and results are available the same day. Multiple allergens can be checked during one test, and when a red, raised bump appears at the testing site, it may indicate the person has an allergy to that specific substance.

Blood Testing

Specific IgE blood testing can be a helpful option for younger children or patients who are more sensitive to skin testing. Unlike skin prick testing, blood testing does not require exposure to the allergen directly on the skin. To confirm a diagnosis, lab results are reviewed by our allergist alongside your symptoms and history.

Oral Food Challenge

An oral food challenge (OFC) is widely considered to be the gold standard for diagnosing a food allergy. Patients eat small amounts of the suspected food at our office, in slowly increasing portions, while our team watches closely for any signs of a reaction.

Where treatment leads 2 Freedom

Transforming food allergy care, one bite at a time

What Are the Symptoms of Food Allergies?

Warning symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild reactions, such as hives and itching, to more severe or even life-threatening responses, such as anaphylaxis. Exposure to even the tiniest amounts of a food allergen can result in serious symptoms. If you are diagnosed with a food allergy, carrying an epinephrine delivery device with you at all times can be life-saving in the event of an emergency.

Signs you need to seek professional treatment include the following.

Rashes, hives, welts or itching.

Swelling of your lips, face, tongue or eyes.

Vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain.

Tingling or itching in the mouth, throat or ears.

Difficulty breathing or wheezing.

Severe swelling of the throat or tongue that interferes with breathing.

Paleness, lethargy, dizziness or fainting.

Rapid pulse or loss of consciousness.

If you live in McKinney, TX and experience any of these symptoms after eating, we recommend having a formal food allergy evaluation.

How Are Food Allergies Treated?

Our experienced food allergy specialists will create a treatment plan tailored to your or your child's unique needs. Aside from avoidance and lifestyle adaptations, your plan may include single or multi-food oral immunotherapy (OIT) and/or food sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).

With single or multi-food oral immunotherapy, Dr. Mireku gradually introduces one or more food allergens in small, carefully measured doses. The goal here is to help the body build long-term tolerance. Patients often choose OIT to reduce their risk during an accidental exposure, such as cross-contact at school.

Food sublingual immunotherapy has the same goal but takes a different approach. With SLIT, allergen doses are absorbed under the tongue rather than being swallowed. This method is sometimes considered simpler to administer, though it may take longer than OIT to reach full effectiveness.

Our goal is to desensitize your immune system toward specific food allergens over time, reducing the risk of severe allergic reactions down the road.  

Adult discussing food allergy treatment with a Safe2Bite provider in North Texas.

Why Families in McKinney, TX,
Trust Safe2Bite for Their Food Allergy Needs

Safe2Bite is recognized by families in McKinney, TX and the surrounding communities for our unwavering commitment to patient comfort and well-being, as well as our effective, compassionate approach to food allergy treatment and management. We pride ourselves on creating personalized treatment plans to address your specific food allergies, health history and daily routines. Every patient, from the youngest to the wisest, can always expect the gentle, compassionate care they need.

Our convenient location provides easy access to expert food allergy treatment for patients in North Texas. With a board-certified food allergy specialist and cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment options, you can count on us for treatment, care and a patient experience that exceeds your expectations.

Dr. Mireku is very kind, pleasant, enjoyable, and helpful. We always enjoy our visits with her. She is very competent and helps us with my son's peanut and seasonal allergies. We have been to several allergists, and Dr. MIreku is (by far) our favorite!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Food Allergy Care Near Me in McKinney, TX

Are you seeking lasting relief from food allergies for yourself or your child in McKinney, TX? Our board-certified allergist and dedicated team at Safe2Bite are here for you. From cutting-edge diagnostics to the latest treatment options and ongoing management, we are committed to providing you with personalized, exclusive care. We look forward to helping you lead a safer and more confident life. We invite you to call us at (469) 916-5504 to book your personalized consultation today.

We proudly serve patients of all ages in McKinney, Prosper, Frisco, Plano, Allen, Fort Worth, Southlake and the greater DFW area. 

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