Nutritionist Fareeha Jay breaks down the critical difference between food allergy and intolerance, sparked by a scene from Parwarish that hit too close to home.
A powerful scene from the Pakistani drama Parwarish recently got everyone talking. In the episode Aniya suffers health reactions to eating meat. Her Dadi brushes it off and insists on treating her with totkay (home remedies), based on her “life experience.” But the truth is—food allergies are serious and not something to experiment with.
This scene struck a chord with many viewers, especially mothers, who flooded nutritionist Fareeha Jay’s inbox with personal stories and questions. In response, Fareeha released a detailed video explaining what food allergies actually are—and why they should be taken seriously.
Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance
Fareeha begins by clearing up a common confusion: the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance.
“When we talk about food allergies, it is your body’s immune response to specific foods which it deems unsafe. So it’s the immune system responding to those foods.”
Allergies can range from mild to severe. In many cases, they can be life-threatening, causing anaphylaxis, a serious reaction that can lead to death if not treated immediately.
On the other hand, a food intolerance does not involve the immune system. It causes discomfort like bloating, diarrhea, or skin rashes—but it is not fatal. The best example: lactose intolerance.
Can Children Outgrow Allergies?
Yes, but only sometimes.
“We can outgrow some of these allergies—specifically egg, milk and soya. But this has to be done under tight supervision. Again, not Dadi experimenting.”
Fareeha warns that while some allergies go away with age, others like peanut, walnut, cashew, sesame are usually lifelong. One has to be really careful with these foods.
What About Meat Allergy?
That’s what Anya appears to have in Parwarish—but Fareeha makes an important clarification.
“Meat allergy is possible, but it is very rare. It’s an immune system response where the body sees animal protein as an invader. It can lead to anaphylaxis and death.”
More commonly, people may have meat intolerance, which causes discomfort but is not deadly.
Why This Matters
Fareeha’s post resonated because it wasn’t just educational—it was emotional. Many women reached out to say their children had suffered serious reactions after being forced to eat foods they were allergic to—often because older family members didn’t believe in “allergy culture.” Women shared how their children ended up in hospitals because their family forced them to eat specific foods.”
Food allergies aren’t myths or trends—they are real, and they can be deadly. The drama Parwarish did the job of bringing this issue into our living rooms, and Fareeha Jay brought it further into focus with clarity and compassion.If someone in your family has a suspected food allergy, don’t rely on totkay or guesswork. Get a proper diagnosis, follow medical advice, and most importantly—believe the person.
Because when it comes to allergies, life experience can’t replace medical science.
About Fareeha Jay Anwar
Fareeha Jay is a Registered Dietitian specializing in South Asian nutrition. With a background in anthropology and dietetics, she combines cultural understanding with nutritional science to provide personalized dietary guidance.
