I am no expert either, but if you look at people who are lactose intolerant (for example,) they simply lack the proper enzyme to digest milk and milk products. In other words, the immune system, if it does get involved, would be secondary to the real problem - the lack of said enzyme. It's not the same as a purely allergic response, because it is still possible for these people to drink Lactaid (or whatever). I, however, can not eat wheat in any form, ever, no matter what is done to it, without an immunologic response. Go figure.