"I have allergies but am not allergic."

I had a conversation with a gal today and discussed allergies. What came of this conversation is that I realized most people that suffer from seasonal allergies, or environmental allergies will commonly say they are not allergic to anything. Their thinking when asked if they are allergic to anything is food allergies or insect bites etc. 


I had to sit and wonder why a common disjuncture had been created in the minds of the majority that although they have allergies that they are not allergic to anything. What is it that makes environmental allergies different from food allergies so that they cannot be collectively grouped as allergies?

The only thing that I can think of is that people categorize their seasonal allergies different from food-based allergies due to the reaction differences.