Objectives To explore suitable conditions for establishing food allergy model through sensitization by in-traperitoneal injection (i.p) with low-dose ovalbumin (OVA) and challenge by gavage with high-dose OVA in SD young rats, and to evaluate the model. Methods Sixteen three-week-old female SD young rats were randomly divided into two groups with 8 rats each. SD young rats in food allergy (FA) group were ifrst sensitized by intraperitoneal injection with 0.2 ml suspension mixed with 40 μg OVA and 1mg Al(OH)3 on the ifrst day (d 0), then intraperitoneally injected with 0.2 ml (40 μg) OVA solution on days 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11, and lastly challenged by gavage with 2.0 ml (15 mg/ml) OVA solution on days 20, 24, 28 and 30. The rats in the control group were intraperitoneally injected and gavaged with the same volume of normal saline instead of OVA during the same period. The eosinophils (EOS), mast cells (MC), the integrity of MC in intestinal mucosa of two groups were observed, and ovalbumin speciifc IgE (OVA-IgE) levels in serum were analyzed. Results The rats in FA group had lusterless hair and diarrhea, and compared with control group, OVA-IgE levels were increased signiifcantly (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the intestinal mucosa of jejunum, ileum and colon in FA group had more damage, with more EOS and degranu-lated MC aggregated (P<0.01). Conclusions The allergy model established through sensitization by intraperitoneal injection with low-dose OVA mixed with adjuvant Al(OH)3 and challenge by gavage with high-dose OVA in young rats had clinical features and intestinal pathological changes consistent with food allergy infants and it was an ideal food allergy model in SD young rats.