yes your symptoms could have been an allergic response. not all allergic responses have breathing difficulties but most will have some degree of itching or hives. symptoms you did not mention. a swollen throat that suddenly came on after eating something certainly is suspicious of an allergic reaction. a bacterial disease especially one that would require an antibiotic would typically not come on this sudden. oral steroids can counteract an allergic reaction so perhaps that helped you.
allergic reaction to food with no breathing problems? . i ate pulled pork bbq. almost immediately my throat started hurting followed by my sinuses starting to hurt. i became very lethargic sensitive to lights and sounds. everything hurt from the neck up. my throat felt swollen face looked slightly swollen. . i went to urgent care and the doctor did not think it was food related because i did not have any breathing problems. strep and flu test came back negative. i was treated with antibiotics and steroids. . could this have been a food reaction?