About one-third of those with seasonal allergies may experience a “cross reaction” between pollens and foods/fruits/nuts/spices.
Those individuals (I am also a sufferer!) experience “oral allergy syndrome”and have have an itchiness of the mouth, tongue and lips as a result of ingesting the following foods:
Spring Tree Pollens (Birch) : Seasonal allergy sufferers who react to this pollen may react when eating: kiwi, cherries, carrots, hazelnuts, apples, pears, peaches, kiwi, plums, coriander, fennel, parsley, celery and almonds,
Grass Allergy Seasonal Allergy Sufferers to this pollen may react when ingest: peaches, celery, tomatoes, melons, and oranges.
Ragweed Allergy : Cross reacts with melon, cantaloupe, banana, Chamomille tea and even Echinacea.
In some cases, cooking or peeling the fruit may be enough to reduce “oral allergy symptoms”. Remember, this condition is similar and can be easily confused with a more serious reaction such as a “food allergy”. Get tested, confirm the diagnosis and have an allergist directed plan of action.
