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 | Another development that is likely to ruin a barbeque-lover's day: Meat allergy. Food allergies are becoming increasingly common, and most people have heard of someone who is allergic to nuts or seafood. Adults are commonly allergic to fresh fruits and vegetables, a condition called oral allergy syndrome, which is caused by pollen allergies. While food allergies can occur with any food, allergy to meats is not nearly as common. Meat allergy is sometimes related to other food allergies, such as beef allergy occurring in a milk-allergic child. Other times, meat allergy can be related to airborne allergies, such as chicken allergy occurring in a person allergic to down feathers. One form of meat allergy acts very different than other food allergies, in that the symptoms occur many hours after food consumption -- compared to minutes after eating for most food allergies. Allergy to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (aka alpha-gal) is a carbohydrate that occurs in mammalian meats (such as beef, pork and lamb), that causes an allergic reaction hours after eating. People who have experienced recent tick bites may be more at risk for allergy to alpha-gal. | |
Meat Allergy
Meat allergy, such as to beef, pork, poultry and lamb is uncommon, likely due to meats usually being cooked before being eaten. Cooking reduces the allergenic nature of foods by breaking down the proteins responsible for allergic reactions - if the protein causing the allergy (called the allergen), is broken down by heat, then the allergic antibody (IgE) no longer recognizes the protein, and the allergic reaction doesn't occur.
| Barbeque Allergy
Mesquite, oak, cedar and hickory are types of wood used for this barbecuing -- they are also trees that produce pollen that many people with seasonal allergies are allergic to. It appears that the allergen in this type of pollen is also contained within the wood of the tree; these allergens survive combustion and remain in smoke once the wood is burned.
| Symptoms of Food Allergy
Approximately 8% of children and 2% of adults suffer from true food allergies. When the culprit food is eaten, most allergic reactions will occur within minutes. Skin symptoms (itching, urticaria, angioedema) are the most common, and occur during most food reactions. Other symptoms can include nasal (sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose and eyes), gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea), lung (shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness), and vascular (low blood pressure, light-headedness, rapid heart beat) symptoms. When severe, this reaction is called anaphylaxis, and can be life threatening.
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